Houthis and Saudis strike each other in latest escalation
Fighting has continued between Iran-backed rebels and Saudi Arabia, adversely impacting the kingdom's economy and security. Still, Saudi officials have stopped warning of Houthi attacks in an effort to calm fears.
On Tuesday, Houthi rebels claimed Saudi Arabia carried out airstrikes against border regions in Yemen, specifically targeting the Red Sea island of Kamaran, Qanawis north of Hodeida port, and Jawf. Rebel-run satellite television reported two strikes on Kamaran and a third on Qanawis. The Houthis also stated they had downed a Saudi drone over Saada.
This escalation occurred shortly after air-raid sirens sounded and explosions rang out in Saudi Arabia's capital, Riyadh, a city under intense fire in recent days. The conflict between the two parties has been ongoing since 2015, when Saudi Arabia entered Yemen's civil war to lead a military coalition against the Iran-backed Houthis.
The rebels have repeatedly targeted Saudi Arabia in recent days, with one attack on Saturday killing 13 people, the deadliest in the country in over a decade. Egypt's Foreign Minister, Badr Abdelatty, called for an immediate halt to Houthi attacks on the kingdom, emphasizing there is no justification for such actions. The heightened Houthi activity is a result of the US-Israeli war on Iran, initiated on February 28.
The Houthis have further destabilized the region by targeting oil and transport infrastructure, impacting Saudi Arabia's oil exports and causing a significant contraction in its GDP, according to the International Monetary Fund (IMF). Saudi Arabia has sought assistance from the US, despite previous dismissals. Trump hinted at joining the fight against the rebels, but the Houthis warned that US interests in the region would be targeted if the US intervened.
Despite multiple fatalities and injuries, Saudi Arabia has ceased issuing air raid alerts to avoid panic. However, analysts caution that this could increase uncertainty about the current situation. Saudi authorities have also warned against sharing images related to Houthi air attacks, aiming to balance public messaging and prevent disruption in the kingdom.
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