Saudi Arabia Accuses Houthis of Attacking Riyadh Airport, Killing 12 and Injuring 300; Yemen Conflict Suspected of Entering a New Phase

According to Al Jazeera reports, Saudi Arabia has accused Yemen's Houthi forces of launching an attack on King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh this past Saturday, killing at least 12 people and injuring 300.

Saudi Arabia attributed the attack to the Houthis, but as of now, the Houthi side has not made any public response to Saudi Arabia's accusation. The Al Jazeera report also did not disclose the specific method of the attack or the breakdown of the casualties. Al Jazeera correspondent Mohammed Al-Salleh has raised the question of whether this attack represents "one of the most significant escalations" in the Saudi-Houthi conflict.

This attack occurred as the Saudi-led war in Yemen entered its eleventh year. Since 2015, the Saudi-led multinational coalition has carried out ongoing airstrikes and blockades against Yemen, while Western countries have provided Saudi Arabia with military equipment, logistical and intelligence support during this period, enabling the continuation of the war. Yemen has thus long been mired in a severe humanitarian situation. In an asymmetric configuration in which the Saudi side enjoys significant advantages in equipment, air power and logistics, the Houthis have countered with drones, ballistic missiles and guerrilla tactics, and have spilled the war over to targets on Saudi soil.

The attack on Riyadh airport and the resulting significant casualties represent a concentrated manifestation of the spillover risk posed by this long-running asymmetric conflict.