Houthis Escalate Campaign Against Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia is locked in a bitter standoff with the Houthis, a Shia militia controlling most of north-west Yemen. The Houthis have vowed to hit Saudi airports for every airport they destroy, ports for every port, and impose a blockade for every blockade.

They've already made good on this threat by targeting Saudi-linked tankers in the Red Sea and oil facilities in Jizan and Yanbu. This has led to a sharp decline in shipping through the Bab al-Mandab strait, with volumes dropping to their lowest level in months.

The Houthis' strategy aims to exploit Saudi Arabia's vulnerability by choking off its oil exports, which have become crucial since Iran closed the Strait of Hormuz. The rebels also seek concessions from the kingdom on restrictions imposed on shipping and flights in Yemen, particularly a ban on Iranian flights.