Fighting between Iran-backed Houthi rebels and Saudi Arabia continues to intensify. On Saturday, Saudi Arabia reported that the rebels attempted to attack Riyadh with a ballistic missile, marking the first time the capital has been targeted since the escalation in fighting opened a new front in the Iran war. A fire broke out near Riyadh's main airport following the launch of missiles and drones.
On the ground in Yemen, the Houthi militia is engaged in fierce battles with Saudi-backed government forces as it seeks to maintain momentum. The rebels have been pushing east and executed a lightning advance down Yemen's western coast to the Bab el-Mandeb Strait. This surge has extended the wider Middle East conflict and further threatened global energy supplies.
Amid the revived civil war, a senior Houthi official warned other countries against joining Saudi Arabia. Meanwhile, Mohamed al-Bukhaiti, a member of the Houthis' political bureau, stated that Washington reached out to the rebels following their recent advances. The Iran-backed group further noted it has assured the Trump administration that it will not attack U.S. vessels in the Red Sea.