The Houthis (Ansar Allah) have added new dimensions to the recently resumed war by firing a ballistic missile at Riyadh, the capital of Saudi Arabia. This is the first attack on Riyadh since the war with the Houthis restarted.
Attack and Saudi Response
Saudi Arabia confirmed that the missile fired towards Riyadh was "intercepted and destroyed." However, there are reports from some residents of Riyadh who heard the sound of an explosion, and some also observed a column of smoke near the airport. Agence France-Presse also mentioned two loud explosions in Riyadh and reported that a fuel tank belonging to the oil company Aramco caught fire near the airport.
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Intentions of the Houthis
The Houthis, who control a large part of Yemen, have recently seized coastal cities near the Bab al-Mandab Strait and its islands. In this context, the Saudi Ministry of Energy temporarily halted the operation of the East-West crude oil pipeline on September 11 due to security threats. This pipeline was targeted the day before by drones that Saudi Arabia stated had flown from Iraq.
Meanwhile, the United States is also paying special attention to the security situation, issuing warnings about the escalation of war in the region. Donald Trump, the President of the United States, cut short his weekend at Camp David and returned to the White House. The White House did not provide any explanation regarding this matter.
On the other hand, Hakan Fidan, Turkey's Foreign Minister, stated that Saudi Arabia may need military assistance, and this will be examined within the framework of the Mecca defense pact. The military pact "Mecca," recently signed between Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and Pakistan, considers any attack on one of these countries as an attack on all.
In this context, Mohsen Rezaei, Secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, also reported sending a message to the United States through intermediaries, with the cessation of war on all fronts being one of its preconditions. Some believe that Iran may place greater emphasis on the Houthis during this period.
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