Escalation of conflict in Saudi Arabia following Houthi airport strikes
Fears of escalating conflict rose in Saudi Arabia on Monday after Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthis launched multiple strikes on Riyadh’s airport over the weekend, killing 13 people and wounding hundreds, reports BritPanorama.
More than 300 individuals were injured when the kingdom’s main international airport was attacked Saturday, marking a significant escalation in the Houthi rebel group’s campaign against the world’s leading oil exporter and key U.S. ally in the region.
The victims included one American citizen, four Saudi nationals, two Bangladeshi nationals, an Egyptian, a Jordanian, a Palestinian, a Syrian, and one Sudanese national. The Indian Embassy in Saudi Arabia confirmed that an Indian national injured in Saturday’s attack had died.
Video footage of the attack displayed a crowded airport before a flash of explosion sent people fleeing for safety as debris fell around them.
The airport remained closed on Monday, disrupting travel plans and leading to significant concerns about safety in the area.
The consequences of the attacks reverberated through the WPC Energy Congress in Riyadh, where several top energy executives withdrew from the event’s agenda. They included executives from Exxon Mobil, TotalEnergies, Shell, Chevron, and BP, who were expected to attend but were no longer listed, as reported by Reuters.
Saudi Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman addressed the conference, asserting, “You know this country is safe and that we hold your protection at whole heart,” while acknowledging, “our gathering here does not mean the risk is gone.” He emphasized that the intensified fighting warranted an equally robust response from the kingdom.
As Saudi Arabia grapples with the implications of this escalation, the Houthis are also intensifying their operations in neighboring Yemen, particularly along the Red Sea coast and near the Bab el Mandeb Strait, a crucial shipping route connecting the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden.
Since the onset of the conflict in 2015, Saudi Arabia has engaged in fighting against the Houthis in support of Yemen’s internationally recognized government. A period of relative calm post the 2022 ceasefire ended when the Houthis resumed military activities, alleging that Saudi Arabia had targeted Sanaa airport as an Iranian plane was landing.
Analysts suggest that the recent attacks could galvanize a stronger response from Washington and other international players, including Pakistan and Turkey, which recently forged a defense agreement with Saudi Arabia. Adam Baron, a fellow at New America who monitors developments in the region, noted that while these attacks progressively inflict harm on the kingdom, they may also prompt assessments among international actors about the need for enhanced measures against the Houthis.
The situation presents a growing dilemma for U.S. officials. President Donald Trump indicated on Saturday that he was still deliberating on whether to escalate U.S. military involvement in Saudi Arabia’s operations against the Houthis. “We may. We’re gonna look at it,” he stated, acknowledging the recent attack. “We move very quickly.”
Despite the heightened military activity, life in Riyadh sought to resume normalcy. As flights into and out of the capital were cancelled, roads reflected heavy traffic as residents navigated their way through the aftermath.
Baron concluded with a note of trepidation regarding the situation, emphasizing the significant anxiety surrounding the unpredictable nature of conflict, remarking, “There’s a great degree of anxiety in terms of … living in a world where you can just have random armed groups hitting airports, right?”
