Houthis and Saudi Arabia Renew Hostilities with Cross-Border Strikes

The escalation between Yemen's Houthi rebels and Saudi Arabia marked a new phase on Monday as the Houthis launched missiles at Abha airport in south-western Saudi Arabia. This retaliatory move came in response to airstrikes targeting Sanaa's airport, which the Houthis attributed to Saudi-led forces. The Saudi coalition reported successful interception of the missiles, resulting in no casualties.

This resurgence of hostilities breaks the relative calm maintained under an informal truce that has lasted for four years. The Yemeni government, supported by Saudi Arabia, asserted that its strike on Sanaa's airport was a preemptive measure to prevent an Iranian aircraft from landing, further accusing the Houthis of contravening Yemeni airspace protocols.

The Houthis wield influence over north-western Yemen and receive backing from Iran, a dynamic that has deepened tensions with Saudi Arabia. The recent developments underscore the fragile state of the conflict, which has resulted in massive humanitarian distress with countless civilian casualties since 2014. The Houthis' spokesperson signaled that retaliations against what they perceive as Saudi aggression will continue.