Why are the Houthis striking Saudi airports?

The attacks mark one of the most significant disruptions to Saudi ​civil aviation in ​years and the deadliest assault on Saudi soil in more than a decade Save Share Yemen’s Houthis have claimed responsibility for Sunday’sattack that killed one personand injured nearly a dozen others at King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh – the day after anotherattack killed 13 peopleand wounded more than 300. The attacks mark one of the most significant disruptions to Saudi civil aviation in years and the deadliest assault on Saudi soil in more than a decade, as Yemeni government forces are also targeting airfields in Houthi-controlled territory. The sharp escalation in the war’s new front comes amid fighting between the Iran-aligned Houthis and Saudi-backed Yemeni government forces, following the collapse of a United Nations-brokered ceasefire largely in place since 2022. Yes. Houthi-run media on Sunday reported “Saudi” air strikes targeting areas in Yemen’s capital Sanaa, held by the Iran-backed armed group. The reports said the attacks targeted the Airport Road area of Sanaa’s al-Thawra district, as well as the Hamdan district. There was no information on the results of those attacks. Yemeni government forces backed by Saudi Arabia also hit Sanaa airport on July 13 with at least five munitions in a series of air attacks, three of which directly struck the only working runway. The Houthis have controlled Sanaa and parts of northwestern Yemen since 2014. Battles are raging around the southern cities of Mocha and Dhubab, which are on the Red Sea coast and strategically important for control of the Bab al-Mandeb strait. The vital shipping chokepoint has become an important alternative to theStrait of Hormuz, where Iranian attacks have raised the costs and risks for oil tanker operators. The attacks have emptied skies over the Saudi capital Riyadh, as ‌‌‌‌authorities extended the suspension of operations at the city’s international airport, the second-busiest after Jeddah. Lufthansa has cancelled all flights to Riyadh until October 16 , while Air France-KLM extended its previous ⁠⁠⁠⁠suspension of services to and from the Saudi capital until the end of the month. The UK, France and Germany have warned their citizens to avoid Riyadh. The disruption comes as the country hosts two major Saudi energy and investment conferences....