Houthis Launch Missile Attacks on Saudi Arabia, Shattering Four-Year Truce
Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi movement launched ballistic missiles and drones targeting Saudi Arabia's Abha International Airport, ending nearly four years of relative calm between the two sides. Saudi air defense systems intercepted the incoming missiles, and authorities reported no casualties.
The attacks came hours after Saudi-backed Yemeni government forces struck the runway at Houthi-controlled Sanaa International Airport. According to Yemen's Defense Ministry, the strike was intended to prevent an Iranian aircraft from landing, accusing Tehran of increasing military support for the Houthis.
The Iranian aircraft was later redirected to Hodeidah, another Houthi-controlled airport, while the Houthis described the Saudi-backed operation as a 'dangerous escalation' and vowed further retaliation if military actions continue.
The renewed fighting has effectively shattered an informal truce that had largely held since 2022, raising fears of a broader regional conflict involving Iran and its allied groups. Security analysts warn that the escalation could once again threaten commercial shipping in the Red Sea and Bab al-Mandab Strait—one of the world's busiest maritime trade routes handling nearly 12% of global trade.
Global markets reacted cautiously as investors monitored developments in the Middle East. Energy traders warned that any expansion of Houthi attacks toward commercial shipping could disrupt oil supplies and push crude prices higher, adding fresh inflationary pressure to the global economy.
