The military conflict between Saudi Arabia and the Houthi rebels in Yemen continues to escalate. After the Houthi rebels carried out successive attacks on targets within Saudi territory, the Saudi side has intensified its military operations in Yemen. The Houthi rebels claim that Saudi Arabia has launched 119 attacks in the past 24 hours.
According to reports by Russian RT TV and Turkish Anadolu News Agency on October 12, Yemen's Houla militant military spokesman Yahya Saree said that within the past 24 hours, Saudi Arabia launched 119 air strikes and missile attacks on Yemen's capital Sanaa, as well as Jaff, Taiz, Saada, Marayb, Lahdhi, Beda, and Ib. These attacks caused casualties.
Sare said that Saudi Arabia used F-15 and Typhoon fighter jets launched from Haimismuchet and Taif Air Force Bases, and launched missiles from Najran and Jizan in the operation.
According to data released by the Houla movement, since the escalation of this round of conflicts, Saudi Arabia has carried out a total of 2,177 air strikes and missile attacks. The number of attacks and the casualties involved cannot be independently verified at present.
Meanwhile, the multinational coalition led by Saudi Arabia has also been continuously reporting military operations against the Houthi movement. Coalition spokesman Turlki Maliki previously stated that the coalition is carrying out large-scale military operations and has destroyed 136 military targets within the Houthi-controlled areas.
Before the conflict escalated further, the Houthi forces had continuously launched missiles and drones against Saudi territory. One of these attacks targeted the Riyadh International Airport, causing significant casualties and disrupting Saudi civil aviation operations.
According to Reuters, on October 10th, Riyadh Khalid International Airport was attacked by missiles and drones, resulting in at least 13 deaths and over 300 injuries. Saudi Arabia has since launched an investigation into whether its air defense systems were unable to successfully intercept the attacks.
Persistent security risks have forced Saudi authorities to extend the airport closures even further. According to Reuters report on October 12th, Saudi authorities have extended the closure of Riyadh International Airport until Saturday. With many airlines canceling flights, there are almost no flights over Riyadh.
According to Cirium, a aviation data analysis company, about 46.4% of the flights scheduled at Saudi airports were canceled on October 12. Flightradar24, a flight tracking website, showed that many international flights avoided Riyadh, but some flights still passed through Saudi airspace and flew towards the western city of Jeddah.
Several international airlines have also adjusted their operating plans. Lufthansa Group cancelled flights to Riyadh as of October 16, and Air France-KLM further extended the suspension period for flights to Riyadh. Other airlines have also made adjustments to their relevant routes.
Reuters noted that this incident has become one of the most serious disruptions to the Saudi aviation industry in recent years. The ongoing armed conflicts in the Middle East and the high prices of aviation fuel have already put pressure on airlines. Recent attacks have exacerbated the industry's difficulties and have also raised concerns about civilian aviation facilities being targets of armed conflicts.
The aviation safety authorities in the United States and Europe have also taken action. The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration has warned American airlines to be cautious when flying to or over Saudi Arabia, while the European Aviation Safety Agency has increased security warnings regarding the airspace over Saudi Arabia.
Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Pakistan, and Egypt issued a joint statement on October 11, condemning the Houthi forces' attack on Saudi airports. They stated that the related actions had led to a dangerous escalation of the regional situation and demanded an immediate cessation of the attacks. The four countries also expressed their support for Saudi Arabia in taking measures to maintain its security.
As military actions between the two sides continue to escalate, the impact of the conflict has extended beyond the military domain to include civil aviation and other infrastructure. While Saudi Arabia continues to attack targets within Yemen, the Houthi rebels still have the ability to launch missiles and drones towards Saudi territory, further intensifying the tensions in the region.
According to a report by the American newspaper The New York Times on October 11, after suffering the most devastating attacks in more than a decade, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman is facing increasing pressure. He urgently needs to find a way to stop the Iranian-backed Yemeni Houze militant group from continuing to launch missiles and drones at Saudi Arabia.
Reports indicate that the recent attacks by the Houla militia against Riyadh International Airport highlight the asymmetry in the conflict between the two sides. Although Saudi Arabia has advanced military equipment and receives military support from the United States, the Houla militia, which has been fighting for over a decade, still has the ability to continue launching attacks.
What further worried Saudi Arabia was that these attacks directly impacted the economic transformation ambitions of Mohammed bin Salman, Crown Prince.
In recent years, Saudi Arabia has been trying to reduce its dependence on oil revenue. Through the "Vision 2030," it aims to diversify its economy and turn the country into a global center for business, investment, and tourism. To achieve this, Saudi Arabia has invested heavily in infrastructure development, tourism, and international air transportation. It is also actively attracting foreign companies and investors.
However, the frequent attacks at the Capital International Airport have not only resulted in a large number of flight cancellations, but also put to the test Saudi Arabia’s efforts to create a safe and stable investment environment.
The New York Times points out that Saudi Arabia currently lacks simple and effective solutions. On one hand, as the strength and demands of the Houthi forces increase, resolving conflicts through political negotiations becomes more difficult. On the other hand, analysts believe that relying solely on military action to completely defeat the Houthi forces is also not very realistic.
The report suggests that finding a way to prevent attacks while avoiding another long-lasting war has become a difficult challenge faced by Crown Prince Mohammed.
