**Houthis Target ‘Sensitive Sites’ in Saudi Arabia Amid Renewed Conflict**
In a significant escalation of hostilities, Houthi missiles and drones targeted multiple “sensitive sites” across Saudi Arabia, including the capital city of Riyadh, the Yemeni militant group announced on Sunday. This series of attacks marks a renewed phase in the ongoing conflict between the Houthis and the Saudi-led coalition, which has been active since 2015.
On Saturday, flames and a large column of black smoke were observed rising near King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, leading to delays and cancellations of flights. The Saudi government reported that its air defenses successfully intercepted a ballistic missile aimed at the capital and thwarted several other assaults.
Yahya Saree, the military spokesman for the Houthis, indicated that the group also targeted facilities belonging to Saudi Aramco, the state oil giant, in the western city of Yanbu. He characterized these strikes as a response to recent attacks by the Saudi-led coalition on Yemen.
The conflict in Yemen, which has caused a humanitarian crisis, saw a temporary reduction in large-scale fighting following a UN-brokered truce in 2022. However, tensions reignited this summer after an airport in Houthi-controlled Sanaa was bombed to prevent an Iranian plane carrying a Houthi delegation from landing. Following this incident, the Houthis declared the ceasefire over and launched a new offensive against Saudi targets.
In addition to attacks on Riyadh, Houthi forces have gained control of key territories along Yemen's Red Sea coast, including strategic positions around the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, a crucial shipping route. The Houthis, officially known as the Ansarullah movement, currently hold significant power in northern and western Yemen, including the capital, Sanaa.
In response to the recent Houthi attacks, Saudi-led forces have resumed airstrikes within Yemen. Faisal Alshammeri, a Saudi political analyst, suggested that these latest assaults might compel Riyadh to adopt a more aggressive stance, despite its previous efforts to avoid re-engagement in a major ground conflict in Yemen.
Alshammeri also highlighted the potential implications of the Mecca defense agreement, which involves Saudi Arabia, Türkiye, and Pakistan. He speculated that Turkey and Pakistan might provide intelligence and air-defense support rather than participate directly in military actions against the Houthis.
The Houthis have issued warnings to other nations regarding involvement in the Saudi campaign. Senior Houthi official Mohamed al-Bukhaiti stated that the group could engage on multiple fronts if foreign countries joined the conflict, asserting that their current operations in the Red Sea are focused on Saudi targets rather than vessels from the US or other nations.
The renewed conflict in Yemen has become increasingly intertwined with broader geopolitical tensions, particularly the ongoing US-Israeli confrontation with Iran. The Houthis have openly aligned themselves with Tehran, further complicating the regional dynamics. Additionally, the fighting around the Strait of Hormuz has led Saudi Arabia to depend more on oil routes through the Red Sea, which are now threatened by the Houthi offensive.
The escalating conflict has contributed to rising oil prices, with Brent crude futures trading around $104 per barrel, reflecting concerns over the security of Middle Eastern energy supply routes.
As the situation continues to develop, the international community watches closely, aware of the potential for further escalation in a conflict that has already had devastating effects on Yemen and the broader region.