Key facts
- Saudi-led coalition intercepted ballistic missiles fired by Yemen's Houthi movement.
- The missiles were targeted at Saudi Arabia's southern region.
- The Houthis accused Saudi Arabia of conducting airstrikes on Sanaa International Airport.
- Yemen's internationally recognized government claimed responsibility for the airport strikes.
- The Houthis detained an International Committee of the Red Cross aircraft and its crew at Sanaa airport.
The Saudi-led coalition announced it intercepted ballistic missiles launched by Yemen's Houthi movement toward the kingdom's southern region. This incident occurred after the Houthi movement accused Saudi Arabia of conducting airstrikes on Sanaa International Airport, an action claimed by Yemen's internationally recognized government, which stated the runway was targeted to prevent an Iranian plane from landing. Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Saree condemned the strikes as 'blatant aggression' and warned that Saudi Arabia would face consequences, signaling an end to a period of de-escalation. The Houthis were also accused of detaining an aircraft belonging to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and its crew at Sanaa airport. An ICRC spokesperson confirmed all staff and crew were safe. Yemen has been embroiled in a civil war and proxy conflict for over a decade. A 2022 truce between Saudi Arabia and the Houthis had largely held, despite regional escalations linked to the Israel-Gaza war and the Iran conflict. The recent violence risks disrupting broader efforts to de-escalate tensions in the region, particularly given the Houthis' alignment with Iran. Saudi Arabia's ability to export oil from its Red Sea coast has been a key economic buffer, and a wider conflict could jeopardize this.