Deadly Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia have heightened regional tensions, prompted US diplomatic departures and intensified accusations over child recruitment and threats against Yemeni tribal gatherings.
WEBDESK – MEDIABITES – THE NATIONAL – IMRAN MALIK
The conflict between Saudi Arabia and Yemen’s Houthi rebels has intensified following deadly attacks on Saudi targets, a US order for non-essential diplomatic personnel to leave the kingdom and a growing dispute over alleged threats against civilian and tribal gatherings in Yemen.
Saudi-led coalition spokesman Turki Al Maliki rejected Houthi accusations that Riyadh was threatening tribal and civilian gatherings, describing the claims as an attempt to mislead public opinion and undermine Yemen’s social fabric. Meanwhile, Yemen’s internationally recognised government acknowledged that a warning against attending Houthi-organised gatherings had been issued erroneously and apologised for the statement.
The developments come as the Iran-aligned Houthi movement claims to have carried out missile and drone attacks against strategic Saudi targets, including the Defence Ministry in Riyadh, King Fahd International Airport in Dammam, an Aramco facility in Yanbu and Abha International Airport.
Deadly attacks raise regional tensions
Saudi authorities reported civilian casualties following attacks on Dammam airport and an attempted strike involving a drone near Saudi Aramco’s Shaybah oilfield in the Eastern Province.
According to Saudi officials, two people were killed in the Dammam airport attack on Wednesday, October 21, while two others died after debris from an intercepted drone fell near the Shaybah oilfield’s processing facilities. Eight people were also reported injured in the airport attack, according to Saudi aviation authorities.
The Houthi military spokesman, Yahya Saree, said the group had launched ballistic missiles and drones against several Saudi targets over the preceding 48 hours. He warned that any Saudi attempt to target Yemeni tribes would trigger a response, threatening consequences he described as catastrophic and unforeseen.
The Saudi-led coalition, meanwhile, said it had intercepted and destroyed five drones in the Riyadh and Madinah regions on Thursday.
The attacks have heightened concerns about the security of civilian infrastructure, aviation and energy facilities across the kingdom, raising the prospect of a wider escalation involving regional powers.
US orders diplomatic departures from Saudi Arabia
Washington has ordered non-emergency US government employees and their family members to leave Saudi Arabia as Houthi attacks against the kingdom intensify.
State Department spokesman Tommy Pigott said the order applied to personnel and families in Saudi Arabia only, rejecting reports that the measure represented a broader withdrawal of diplomatic families from Gulf countries.
However, reports citing US officials and diplomatic sources indicated that departures or similar arrangements were also being considered or implemented in the United Arab Emirates, Jordan, Qatar and Bahrain. The US State Department spokesman disputed claims that the Saudi departure order itself extended across the region.
The move underscores Washington’s concern about the deteriorating security situation, particularly after attacks on airports and energy infrastructure caused deaths and disrupted civilian operations.
Oil markets have also reacted to the escalation. Brent crude rose above $110 a barrel, while West Texas Intermediate traded at around $98, according to the reports, reflecting renewed concerns about regional instability and potential risks to energy supplies.
The latest violence adds another front to a wider regional confrontation that has already disrupted trade and placed pressure on Gulf economies.
Yemen government apologises over tribal gathering warning
The dispute over tribal gatherings has exposed tensions within the anti-Houthi camp in Yemen.
In a statement subsequently deleted, Yemen’s Defence Ministry warned residents of Houthi-controlled areas against attending gatherings organised by the rebels, alleging that the events were being used to recruit children and young people for combat.
The ministry said such gatherings could be considered legitimate military targets, prompting criticism and concern over the potential threat to civilians.
Defence Minister Taher Al Aqili later apologised, describing the warning as erroneous and unacceptable. He said an investigation had been launched and stressed that Yemen’s tribes were central to efforts to restore the state.
Al Maliki echoed that position, saying Yemen’s tribes were an integral part of the country’s social fabric and dismissing claims that the Saudi-led coalition intended to target them.
The Houthis, however, warned that any threat against tribal gatherings would invite retaliation. It remains unclear whether the movement’s warning was a direct response to the now-deleted statement from Yemen’s Defence Ministry.
US accuses Houthis of recruiting children
The escalating confrontation has also intensified international scrutiny of the Houthis’ recruitment practices.
Neil Hop, the US charge d’affaires in Yemen, accused the movement of recruiting children from schools and streets and sending them to front-line positions, exposing them to death and lasting psychological harm.
In a video published by the US embassy in Yemen, Hop called for an end to the practice and accused Houthi leaders of exploiting children from ordinary families for their military campaign.
The allegations add to longstanding concerns about the recruitment and use of children in Yemen’s conflict. The Houthis have not been shown in the supplied reports to have responded directly to Hop’s latest remarks.
The dispute over recruitment has become increasingly significant as both sides seek to mobilise support amid renewed fighting. While the Yemeni government and Washington accuse the Houthis of exploiting public events to enlist young fighters, the movement portrays its military actions as a response to what it calls aggression against Yemen.
Risk of a wider regional confrontation
The latest developments highlight how the Saudi-Houthi conflict is becoming increasingly entangled with wider regional security concerns.
Attacks affecting airports and oil facilities risk disrupting civilian travel, threatening energy infrastructure and increasing pressure on governments to respond militarily. The departure order for US diplomatic personnel also signals heightened concern about the possibility of further attacks.
At the same time, the dispute over tribal gatherings illustrates the risks of miscalculation within Yemen, where military warnings can inflame tensions between armed factions and communities whose support remains politically significant.
The Houthis have vowed to continue their attacks until what they describe as aggression against Yemen ends and restrictions on the country are lifted. Saudi Arabia and its coalition partners face growing pressure to protect critical infrastructure and civilians without triggering a still broader confrontation.
With diplomatic precautions increasing and accusations intensifying on multiple fronts, the latest escalation threatens to deepen an already protracted conflict with consequences extending well beyond Yemen and Saudi Arabia.
