Riyadh airport struck again a day after 12 killed in Houthi escalation, Pg16

Key Highlights:

• A projectile struck a passenger terminal at King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on a Sunday.
• This incident occurred a day after a missile hit the same terminal, resulting in 12 fatalities and 300 injuries.
• The Houthi rebels claimed responsibility for both attacks, escalating tensions in the region.
• An Indian citizen died from injuries sustained in the Saturday attack, bringing the total toll to 13, with at least 10 other Indians injured.
• The airport was closed on Sunday following the attacks.

Detailed Insights:

• The attacks represent a significant escalation in the conflict between the Saudi-led coalition and Houthi rebels in Yemen.
• The article highlights the potential for increased U.S. military involvement, with then-President Donald Trump considering joining the fight against the Houthis.
• Such intervention could lead to the Houthis disrupting shipping through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, a critical chokepoint for global oil flow.
• The Houthis also claimed attacks on King Fahd Airport in Dammam and oil/gas facilities in eastern Saudi Arabia.
• Concurrently, the Houthis reported a suspected Saudi airstrike in Sanaa, Yemen, which killed a child and wounded six others, alongside claims of 91 Yemeni deaths by the coalition in five weeks.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Houthi rebels: Ansar Allah, a Zaydi Shia revivalist group from Yemen, a key faction in the Yemeni civil war, controlling territory including the capital Sana'a, and perceived as backed by Iran.
• Saudi-led coalition: A military alliance, primarily of West Asian and North African countries led by Saudi Arabia, that intervened in Yemen in 2015 to restore the ousted Yemeni government and counter the Houthi movement.
• Bab el-Mandeb Strait: A narrow, strategic sea passage connecting the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, crucial for global trade and energy transport, especially for vessels using the Suez Canal.