The Houthi movement in Yemen has threatened fresh attacks on Saudi Arabia following airstrikes that targeted Sanaa International Airport, potentially reigniting a wider conflict. The U.S.-designated terrorist group, which controls northern Yemen, blamed Saudi Arabia for the strikes, which it labeled "blatant aggression."
Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Saree stated that Saudi Arabia would face consequences and that the attack would not go unanswered. The group also threatened to strike King Khalid Airport in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia's capital.
The airstrikes occurred after Yemen's defense ministry claimed the runway at Sanaa International Airport was targeted to prevent an Iranian plane from landing. A Houthi armed forces spokesman later stated the aircraft had landed at Hodeidah airport. Iran's Press TV reported that Iran condemned the alleged Saudi attack as a breach of law and Yemeni sovereignty.
Salman Al-Ansari, a geopolitical analyst, suggested that the Yemeni government, not Saudi Arabia or the coalition, was responsible for striking the runway. Al-Ansari stated that the action was in response to the Houthis' alleged violation of airspace by allowing an unauthorized Iranian flight, which he claimed could be used for smuggling weapons. He added that the Houthis are currently in a weakened position, with Yemen's legitimate government consolidating control over a significant portion of the country's territory.
Nadwa Al-Dawsari, an expert on Yemen, cautioned that the Houthi threat of retaliation should be taken seriously. She characterized the incident involving the Mahan Air flight as a political message from Iran and the Houthis, intended to normalize direct ties with Houthi-controlled Yemen and challenge existing restrictions on access to the country. The U.S. government has previously sanctioned Mahan Air for its role in supplying weapons to groups like Hezbollah.
Al-Dawsari further noted a pattern of Iran and its proxies establishing faits accomplis, relying on regional and international actors' reluctance to escalate. She also highlighted the Houthis' increasing strategic importance within Iran's regional network, particularly in the Red Sea and the Horn of Africa, as other allied groups have weakened.
The Houthis have been a disruptive force in the region, particularly since the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas invasion of Israel. They have frequently disrupted commercial shipping in the Red Sea, despite a 2022 truce with the Saudi-led coalition. The group's slogan includes anti-American and anti-Israeli sentiments, as well as curses against Jews.
Muhammad Al-Farah, a member of the Houthi Political Bureau, reportedly warned that the Bab al-Mandab Strait could face disruptions similar to the Strait of Hormuz, potentially driving oil prices to $200 per barrel and providing the Houthis with a rationale to attack and "liberate Yemen from occupation."