Yemen's Houthis warn passengers not to use Saudi airports

Yemen's Houthis warn passengers against using Saudi airports after deadly missile attack

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Yemen's Houthi rebels have warned passengers not to use airports in Saudi Arabia, a day after a deadly missile attack on Riyadh airport killed at least 12 people and injured more than 300. The warning comes from the Iran-backed rebels, who have been fighting Yemen's government since the outbreak of a civil war over a decade ago.

The attack on Riyadh airport is the deadliest on any Gulf Arab country since the start of the Iran war. The Houthis have not formally claimed responsibility for the attack, but Saudi officials have blamed the Iran-backed rebel group. The Saudi-led coalition, which supports the Yemeni government, has vowed a tough response to the attack, labeling it a 'fully-fledged war crime'.

The Houthis' warning to passengers is a significant escalation of the conflict, which has seen a surge in Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia this week. The attacks have targeted other airports, military sites, and oil infrastructure. The spike in attacks has followed a major military offensive by the Saudi-led coalition against the Houthis.

The US-Israeli war with Iran has seen fighting flare up again in Yemen, worsening an already severe humanitarian crisis. The conflict has been ongoing since 2015, with the Houthis fighting against the internationally recognized government of Yemen. A truce in 2022 froze the conflict, but it failed to secure a lasting peace deal.

The United Arab Emirates has issued a statement in solidarity with Saudi Arabia, expressing support for 'all measures aimed at safeguarding the kingdom's security and stability'. This is significant given the major rupture in relations between the two oil-rich kingdoms this year, sparked by lingering divisions in Yemen and the Iran War.

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