Houthis Say Saudi Attacks Will Continue Until Yemen Blockade Is Lifted

Sana’a, MINA – Yemen’s Houthi group has said its attacks on Saudi Arabia are aimed at pressuring Riyadh to lift the blockade and are a response to Saudi support for the government led by President Abd Mansour Hadi.

The group has vowed to continue its operations until the blockade is lifted. King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh has been among the reported targets, Khaleej Times reported on Tuesday.

The largest reported attack took place on Saturday. Saudi Arabia’s General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) reported that at least 12 people were killed and 309 others injured. Several media outlets later reported that the death toll had risen to 13 after one of the injured victims died.

The attack was described as the most significant escalation in the Houthis’ recent campaign targeting Saudi airports, oil facilities and tankers.

The Houthis had initially remained outside the conflict involving the United States and Israel against Iran. However, last month, the group seized strategic territory and effectively took control of the Bab al-Mandab Strait, a vital shipping passage connecting the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden.

Yemeni government forces and their local allies subsequently launched a counteroffensive last week in an effort to drive Houthi forces from the area.

The Houthis have openly presented their justification for the attacks. They described the October 6 operations as retaliation for 60 Saudi airstrikes and missile attacks on Sanaa and several other provinces during the preceding 24 hours.

Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree said the group’s operations would continue to expand until what it describes as aggression against Yemen ends and the blockade on the Yemeni people is lifted.

The group has repeatedly targeted Saudi airports, oil facilities and tankers since a ceasefire in its prolonged conflict with the Riyadh-backed Yemeni government collapsed in July. The latest attacks on Riyadh represent an escalation not seen since the broader regional war began eight months ago, according to the report.

The consequences have extended to civil aviation and economic activity. Data from aviation analytics firm Cirium showed that 169 of the 378 scheduled departures at King Khalid International Airport on Thursday (October 8) were canceled or did not operate.

The continued escalation has also raised concerns about possible increases in fuel prices and global inflation, particularly if disruptions spread to critical energy infrastructure and shipping routes.

The conflict dates back to September 2014, when Houthi forces seized Yemen’s capital, Sanaa. In March 2015, a Saudi-led coalition intervened to restore the internationally recognized government of President Abd Mansour Hadi.

More than a decade of fighting has killed over 150,000 people and contributed to one of the world’s most severe humanitarian crises.

The Houthis have demanded an end to the blockade, which they say restricts the entry of essential supplies, including food, fuel and medicine. The restrictions have contributed to widespread hardship and food insecurity across Yemen. The group has also called for Saudi Arabia to end its support for the Hadi government and halt military operations against Houthi forces.

The latest escalation has renewed concerns about a return to full-scale conflict and further complicated efforts to reach a political settlement. International calls for de-escalation and renewed negotiations have continued, but the prospects for a lasting peace remain uncertain.

The attacks on King Khalid International Airport have also highlighted concerns about civilian aviation safety, while any wider disruption to regional shipping and energy supplies could affect global oil markets and inflation.

The situation remains tense, with the Houthis vowing to continue their attacks until their demands are met, while Saudi Arabia has pledged to respond firmly.[]

Mi’raj News Agency (MINA)