Iran-backed Houthi rebels launched a ballistic missile toward Saudi Arabia following airstrikes on Sanaa International Airport, which the group accused the Saudi-led coalition of orchestrating. The Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Saree vowed retaliation, stating that Saudi Arabia would bear the consequences.
The escalation occurred after Yemen's Saudi-backed government launched airstrikes at the Sanaa International Airport, reportedly to prevent an Iranian plane carrying a delegation that had attended Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi's funeral from landing. The plane was redirected to Hodeidah airport. Yemen's Defense Minister Taher al-Aqili called the incident an act of "blatant aggression" and a violation of Yemeni airspace and sovereignty.
This marked a significant rise in tensions since a 2022 truce that ended seven years of conflict in Yemen, which had resulted in one of the world's most severe humanitarian crises. The Houthi rebels control the capital city of Sanaa and have observed the truce with the internationally recognized government.
Maritime Concerns
Simultaneously, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) reported suspicious activity in the Gulf of Aden off the coast of Yemen. At least six small boats approached a tanker, which was forced to fire warning shots as the boats continued to follow. This incident, which is under investigation, has heightened fears that the Houthis could target the Bab al-Mandab Strait, a crucial global trade route connecting the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden. Approximately $1 trillion worth of goods pass through the Red Sea annually. The Houthis have previously threatened these waterways, impacting global shipping in 2024. Attacks on the strait could further disrupt shipments from Saudi Arabia, a major oil exporter that has been rerouting barrels through the Red Sea.