Abdul-Malik al-Houthi warned Thursday evening that if Saudi Arabia participates in aggression against Yemen, all Saudi oil facilities and vital infrastructure will be targeted by missiles and drones. He called on Riyadh to lift the blockade and end interference, setting the equation: 'Sanaa airport vs. Riyadh airport, ports vs. ports, siege vs. siege,' according to the Houthi-affiliated Abu Ali Express.
The Houthi leader's latest threat, issued Thursday evening, sharpens the group's ultimatum to Saudi Arabia, just hours after a similar warning from a Houthi official earlier in the day. Abdul-Malik al-Houthi's statement — reported by the Houthi-affiliated Abu Ali Express — explicitly ties the targeting of Saudi oil and infrastructure to any Saudi involvement in 'aggression' against Yemen, and introduces a reciprocal 'siege for siege' doctrine linking Sanaa's airport and ports to their Saudi counterparts.
This follows the Houthi political council's Monday warning that Riyadh has a 'short time' to lift the blockade, and a series of escalating threats over the past two weeks, including a no-fly zone declaration over Saudi airspace and warnings to airlines. Saudi Arabia has responded with forceful warnings of its own, vowing to respond forcefully to any harm to the kingdom.
The new threat underscores the Houthi movement's willingness to confront Saudi Arabia directly as the blockade on Sanaa continues. The equation of airports, ports, and sieges marks a more explicit framing of the group's strategy, though the actual military capability to carry out such strikes remains unverified from independent sources.
3 developments
- StrongHouthis threaten to strike Saudi oil facilities, warn of 'short time' for Riyadh to lift blockade
- StrongHouthi spokesman warns Saudi airports targeted if blockade continues
- DevelopingSaudi Arabia warns Houthis: 'We will respond forcefully to any attempt to harm the kingdom'
- DevelopingSaudi Arabia prepares 'violent wave' of strikes against Houthis, warns of Iranian attack plans
Source and signal
- Internal intake