Saudi Arabia Strikes Houthi-Controlled Sanaa Amid Rising Yemen Conflict

Saudi Arabia reportedly launched an attack on Sanaa, the capital of Yemen controlled by the Houthi militant group, escalating the ongoing conflict between Riyadh and the Houthis. Although Saudi Arabia has not officially claimed responsibility for the strike, Arab media sources reported explosions in the city on Thursday.

Houthi leader Abdul-Malik Badreddin al-Houthi condemned the Saudi aggression, accusing Riyadh of intensifying the blockade on Yemen in response to the Houthis' support for Gaza, and claimed this served Israel's interests. Earlier this week, a senior Houthi intelligence commander was assassinated near Sanaa's airport in a mysterious operation involving unidentified gunmen who escaped without revealing their identities.

This targeted killing is part of a series of recent assassinations aimed at Houthi commanders and militants, some successful and others not, according to Saudi media. The latest assassination, despite the victim's heavy security, has raised questions about the Houthis' control over their territories. Local Yemeni sources suggest these incidents reflect the fragility of the Houthis' security apparatus and expose internal power struggles within the Iranian-backed militia over influence, resources, and leadership positions.