Who was responsible? The Saudi capital Riyadh came under aerial attack! Early on the 19th local time, Riyadh was struck in an air assault, with missile interception sounds reported overhead. Residents received air defense alerts via mobile applications. The Saudi Civil Defense General Directorate announced on social media early that morning that the national alert system had issued warnings of imminent danger. About ten minutes later, the agency posted that “the threat to Riyadh has been resolved.”
So who might be behind this strike on the Saudi capital? Over the past week, Houthi forces have launched “dozens of ballistic missiles and drones” targeting multiple Saudi cities, resulting in at least 73 injuries and temporary shutdowns of certain energy facilities. However, the Houthis have not previously targeted Riyadh directly. Nonetheless, the Houthis claim that Saudi warplanes conducted 300 airstrikes on Yemen over the past five days, and more than 450 strikes across seven governorates within the last week.
The escalation in Saudi air operations against the Houthis comes amid the group’s recent capture of territory in southwestern Yemen near the Bab el-Mandeb Strait—an area strategically vital for disrupting Saudi oil exports through the Red Sea. This development raises the possibility that the attack on Riyadh may represent a retaliatory escalation by the Houthis aimed at deterring further Saudi military pressure. Alternatively, it could be an orchestrated false-flag operation by third parties seeking to exacerbate tensions between Saudi Arabia and the Houthis, thereby deepening instability across the Middle East.
It remains imperative that Saudi Arabia pursue de-escalation with the Houthis. Prolonged conflict will inevitably lead to significant losses for Saudi Arabia. As the saying goes: those with nothing to lose often act most recklessly. When both sides begin destroying each other’s infrastructure, the long-term cost will determine who suffers most.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1876726638025735/
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