Key facts
- The Houthis claimed a large-scale missile and drone attack on Saudi forces in Mokha, Yemen.
- The attack resulted in casualties, with reports of seven killed and 30 wounded.
- The escalation began after a Saudi airstrike disabled the runway at Sanaa airport, preventing an Iranian flight from landing.
- The Houthis turned down an offer for the delegation to travel on a non-Iranian airline.
- The incident threatens to upend a 2022 truce in Yemen and draw the country into broader regional conflict.
The Houthis have claimed responsibility for a large-scale missile and drone attack targeting Saudi forces and equipment in Mokha, Yemen, resulting in casualties. This escalation threatens to unravel a 2022 truce and potentially draw Yemen into a wider regional conflict.
The tit-for-tat attacks began on July 13 with a Saudi airstrike on Sanaa airport's runway, which prevented an Iranian flight carrying a Houthi delegation from landing. The Houthis had flown the flight without prior permission, challenging the Saudi-led coalition's control over Yemeni airspace. Despite turning down an offer to use a non-Iranian airline, the flight eventually landed in Hodeida via an Omani-led effort.
Analysts suggest Iran's involvement in the Mahan Air flight saga is an escalation tactic, signaling that attacks on Iran could incur costs elsewhere, particularly for Saudi Arabia. Following the Sanaa airport strike, the Houthis attacked Abha airport in Saudi Arabia and announced a blockade on Saudi shipping in the Red Sea, also targeting Saudi vessels and oil facilities. The Saudi-led coalition responded with strikes on Hodeida and Kamaran and reinforced Yemeni troops for a potential ground offensive.
The rebels, anticipating a ground offensive, launched numerous missiles and drones at military camps, causing dozens of casualties among troops and civilians. They also attacked the port city of Mokha, causing severe damage. In recent years, the Houthis have faced internal challenges due to deteriorating living conditions, leading them to seek political and economic concessions from Saudi Arabia and blame the Saudi-led blockade for their territory's hardships. The conflict, which began in March 2015, has created one of the world's worst humanitarian crises, with the most severe hunger in Houthi-held territories.