Yemen’s Houthi rebels fire ballistic missiles in Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia: The Houthi rebels in Yemen then attacked with ballistic missiles in Saudi Arabia. The Iran-backed outfit had also targeted the Gulf country’s oil base on March 7 with drones and missiles.

A residential complex of oil company Aramco was also attacked. At the same time, the Saudis had spoken of thwarting this attack.

The Saudi-led coalition forces said in a statement that the Houthi rebels had fired two ballistic missiles on Monday. The missiles fell into uninhabited areas of southern Saudi Arabia, bordering the Yemen border. 

The coalition also reported that a bunker and launchpad made for ballistic missiles in Saadah province, northern Yemen, was demolished. The rockets were fired from here. The coalition said, “We are taking steps to demolish the hideouts that are at risk for the safety of the citizens.”

The Houthi rebels occupy most of Yemen, including the capital city of Sanaa. Whereas since 2015, the Saudi coalition has launched a campaign against the Houthi rebels. Houthi rebels often target Saudi border areas near Yemen. In September 2019, Aramco’s oil plants were targeted with drones. It was claimed by the Houthi rebels. At the same time, Saudi had held Iran responsible.

Who are Houthi rebels?

The Houthi insurgency in Yemen, also recognized as the Houthi rebellion, Sa’dah War, or Sa’dah conflict, was a military revolt pitting Zaidi Shia Houthis opposite the Yemeni military that started in Northern Yemen and has since intensified into a full-scale civil battle.

According to a February 2015 Newsweek article, Houthis are struggling “for things that all Yemenis want: administration accountability, the end to corruption, regular services, fair fuel prices, employment opportunities for ordinary Yemenis, and the end of Western domination.”

Horn of Africa director at Human Rights, Laetitia Bader, tweeted, “Scores of mostly #Ethiopian migrants protesting detention conditions burned to death in #Yemen after #Houthi forces launched projectiles into the center causing a fire. #UN should include this horrific incident as part of its ongoing investigations.”

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