Saudi Arabia acts with political will and wisdom to support region, academic says

Saudi Arabia's foreign ministry has accused Iran of providing support to Houthi rebels, escalating the ongoing conflict between the two parties. Deputy Minister for Public Diplomacy, Dr Rayed Krimly, stated during a virtual briefing that Iran continues to arm, train, and support the Houthi militia, in direct violation of UN Security Council resolutions.

Krimly expressed concern about the recent escalation of the conflict, stating that the Houthis' latest actions are encouraged by Iran. Despite this, Saudi Arabia maintains ongoing communication with Iran, even though Tehran appears reluctant to make concessions. The official further accused the Houthis of refusing to meet in Oman during recent weeks as hostilities intensified between the two sides.

The latest attack on Saudi Arabia includes a strike on the kingdom's international airport, which was the deadliest in years. This comes as the war with the Houthis has escalated dramatically, reigniting Yemen's civil war in July after a UN-brokered truce collapsed. The conflict has caused a humanitarian crisis, with the United Nations describing it as one of the world's worst, with most of the population reliant on aid.

The Saudi-led coalition has been fighting the Houthis since 2015, following the group's seizure of Yemen's capital Sanaa and the forced ousting of the internationally recognized government from the city. The UN-brokered ceasefire in 2022 was not maintained.