The Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen launched missiles and drones at Saudi Arabia’s Abha International Airport on Monday, marking a significant escalation in the ongoing conflict.The attack followed Saudi air strikes on Sanaa International Airport earlier in the day, which the Houthis blamed for targeting their facilities.

No casualties were reported, but the strikes signal a renewed confrontation between the Houthis and Saudi Arabia, which had experienced a period of relative calm since a UN-brokered truce in 2022.Saudi officials did not immediately comment on the strikes, while Houthi military spokesman Brig.Gen.Yahya Saree warned airlines to avoid Saudi airspace until the blockade on Sanaa Airport is lifted.The UN Security Council expressed concern over the risk of wider escalation, urging all parties to engage in negotiations.The conflict, which has raged for over a decade, involves a Saudi-led coalition fighting the Houthis in Yemen.

Tensions have recently flared over alleged violations of Yemeni airspace by Saudi planes, which the Houthis claim were aimed at preventing an Iranian plane from carrying a delegation to Tehran for the funeral of Iran’s Supreme Leader.Yemen’s defense minister warned that patience had run out, vowing to retaliate against any violations of Yemeni sovereignty.The attack on Sanaa Airport comes amid broader regional tensions, including the UAE’s withdrawal from the Saudi-led coalition and U.S.threats to impose sanctions on the Strait of Hormuz.The situation underscores the complex geopolitical dynamics in the region, with the potential for further escalation threatening stability.