Houthi Group Launches Missile Attack on Saudi Arabia, Ending Informal Truce

Riyadh. Yemen's armed group Houthi has launched a missile attack on Saudi Arabia. Houthi launched this attack after accusing Saudi Arabia of launching an airstrike on Sana'a International Airport, which is under their control. 

This attack has signaled the end of the informal peace period that has been in place between the two sides for four years. According to the spokesperson of the Saudi-led military coalition, the missiles fired by the Houthi group targeting the southern region were intercepted and destroyed by the Saudi air defense system. 

Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Sari said that the missile was fired targeting Saudi Arabia's Abha International Airport. Abha is a major city in the mountainous southern region of Saudi Arabia bordering Yemen. This is the first claimed direct missile attack by the Houthi group on Saudi Arabia since the informal ceasefire came into effect in March 2022. Before that, the Houthis had repeatedly attacked Saudi Arabia's energy infrastructure. 

Monday's incident has increased the possibility of renewed conflict on Saudi Arabia's southern border. Earlier, during the US-Iran tension, the situation had become somewhat calm with the ceasefire in April after Iran launched drone and missile attacks on Saudi Arabia's eastern region. Saudi Arabia exports oil through pipelines from its eastern region to the Red Sea on the western coast instead of the Persian Gulf. However, it is analyzed that if the conflict with Houthi escalates again, maritime shipping and oil supply through the Red Sea could also be affected.