What after the Houthis targeted Saudi civilian airports?!

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A death and 11 injuries occurred as a result of the Houthi targeting of King Khalid International Airport in the Saudi capital (Riyadh), on Sunday, October 11, and before that, the Civil Aviation Authority announced the death of 12 people and the injury of 302, in a Houthi attack that targeted the same airport, on Saturday, October 10, in addition to attacks that targeted King Fahd International Airport in Dammam, and before that the airports: Abha, Jazan, and Najran. Which means that the Houthi militias targeted 5 Saudi civilian airports during this October!

Through this focus on airports, the Houthis aim to create an aura of panic among citizens and residents, and raise the economic, military, and humanitarian cost to Saudi Arabia, and thus affect morale.

Also, the Houthi group seeks to improve its field and negotiating position. Especially since it is suffering from financial and social crises in the areas it controls, and in recent weeks it has been waging violent daily battles with the legitimate Yemeni government forces, and hundreds of its members have been killed, and many of its ammunition stores and military headquarters are being subjected to intense daily raids led by the “Coalition to Support Legitimacy” within a precise and specific target bank, which was developed based on intelligence monitoring and information from sources on the ground, in a fierce battle that will not be easy, and may extend for a longer period.

The Houthis seek to confront this material, social and military pressure by targeting civilian objects and energy sources, believing that this will push Riyadh to talk to mediators, in order to urge the Houthis to stop targeting the Kingdom, and thus the Houthis will demand a price for that, and there will be a quid pro quo based on political-economic blackmail. Meaning money and influence in exchange for security!

Another matter: The Houthi leadership in Saada believes that the “verbal understanding” that took place previously between them and the administration of US President Donald Trump, according to which the United States stopped its bombing of the Houthis, in exchange for their pledge not to attack American ships, gives it the ability to neutralize Washington. Especially since she delivered messages through the American embassy in the Sultanate of Oman, in which she said that she would not harm American interests, in an attempt to neutralize President Trump and drive a wedge between him and Riyadh.

This is how the Houthis think, and they hope that their policies will succeed in achieving their goals, which if they succeed in achieving them, will turn into permanent behavior in which they practice blackmail and take civilians hostage in exchange for remaining in power.

If we read the Houthi behavior and its goals with some calm and logical political analysis, we will find that it is basing its hypothesis on an unrealistic perception, which does not take into account the major changes that have taken place in the region since October 7, 2023 until now, and these are very profound changes, in which the Houthi allies in the “axis of resistance” (Hezbollah, Hamas, and the Iraqi factions, along with their regulating Iranian regime) have lost many elements of power, and have become less able to impose their agendas; Especially after the departure of Bashar al-Assad’s regime from Syria, and the killing of both Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and Hezbollah Secretary General Hassan Nasrallah.

It is true that the “Revolutionary Guard” and “resistance factions” still have the ability to cause harm, by launching “drones” and ballistic missiles, but these are operations - despite the loss of lives and money they cause - whose costs can be borne, and which do not radically change the balance of power.

For its part, Saudi Arabia - through its defense system - prepared for these threats, and despite the occurrence of a number of casualties among civilians and at airports and oil supplies, and despite the losses it caused and the state of widespread popular anger towards the Houthis, the rate of air defenses responding to ballistic missiles and drones is considered high, which indicates the efficiency and readiness of the “Armed Forces”, despite the fact that it was subjected to attacks that affected several areas in the Kingdom, and from several external parties: The Iranian “Revolutionary Guard” towards the eastern and central region, and the “Iraqi armed factions” from the northern border of the Kingdom towards the oil supply lines, and from the Houthis towards the capital, the south and western Saudi Arabia.

A vast country, such as Saudi Arabia, is exposed to real dangers from hostile parties, in various ways, and yet life continues normally in its governorates, cities, and villages. This is something that gives citizens and residents a greater sense of security, gives them broader loyalty to their government, and at the same time strengthens societal peace and fortifies the internal front. This explains the state of anger that prevailed among the Saudi people after the Houthi terrorist attacks. It is positive anger, higher than national identity, without falling into the trap of sloganeering and populism. Rather, it deepened the alignment behind the leadership and confidence in its political and military decisions.

On the part of the Saudi government; Whoever follows the statements issued by the “Council of Ministers,” the “Ministry of Foreign Affairs,” and the “Ministry of Defense,” as well as the statements of the “Coalition to Support Legitimacy,” of which Riyadh is considered the linchpin, will find that the Kingdom is determined to deal with the Houthis firmly. Not because she does not prefer a diplomatic solution; On the contrary, peaceful solutions were granted for several years, without the Houthis benefiting from these opportunities. Saudi Arabia has become convinced that there is no way to let the Houthis carry out killing and terrorism operations without deterrence, otherwise this will turn into permanent behavior. Accordingly, Riyadh is working to support the war effort of Operation “Yemen Dawn” and to support the forces fighting the Houthis on the ground, while at the same time continuing its precise air operations through the “Coalition”, and the “Armed Forces” are supporting this in confronting the missiles and drones targeting the Kingdom.

Therefore, according to a non-hasty and non-desirable political reading, it can be said that the Houthis will not achieve their goal. Neither Riyadh will accept to be a hostage of terrorism, nor will the international community accept that there is an outlaw group obstructing safe navigation in the Bab al-Mandab Strait.

As for the Saudi people; Anyone who observes his behavior will find that he supports the decision to confront the Houthis, weaken their capabilities, and push them to stop the attacks permanently. Because this society is well aware that the cost that is being paid now - whatever it is - is less than the cost that will be paid in the future if the Houthis and their allies strengthen the terrorist and outlaw groups. Everything has a price, and security is preserved by the force that supports and accompanies diplomacy, and makes it capable of imposing peace, stability, and compliance with international law.

Militarily and politically, Riyadh will move according to its national and national interests, and in line with the goals of the “Kingdom’s Vision 2030,” which wants to achieve development and build a diversified economy and a modern civil state. Therefore, its response to Houthi terrorism will be according to its own rules, in a way that preserves its interests first and foremost, and prevents attacks from it, and not according to what the Houthis or any other regional party decides.

Quoted from "Asharq Al-Awsat"