Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia.. How did they escalate within a week?

The attacks of the Yemeni Houthi group, allied with Iran, on Saudi Arabia escalated during the past week, targeting airports and vital installations, resulting in deaths and hundreds of injuries, in a development that kept King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh closed, and raised questions about Saudi response options and the possibilities of expanding the confrontation. Saudi Arabia announced that it intercepted and destroyed three ballistic missiles launched by the Houthis, on Monday, at a time when the main international airport in the Saudi capital remained closed, following a series of attacks that killed at least 20 people and injured hundreds over the past week.

The Saudi army stated that it intercepted a missile over Riyadh and destroyed two other missiles over Khamis Mushait, southwest of the country. The armed forces under the control of the Houthis in Yemen claimed responsibility for the attacks, noting that they targeted King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh and a military base.

The group also renewed its warnings to international airlines against operating flights to Saudi airports. These attacks came shortly after the Saudi authorities announced that King Khalid International Airport would remain closed until further notice, as a notice to air navigation (NOTAM) indicated that the airport would remain closed until at least October 17.

Saudi Arabia launched a large-scale attack last week, in support of the Yemeni government forces in their confrontation with the Houthis, but the group has so far managed to withstand and maintain its positions. In an approach inspired by the methods followed by Iran in its conflict with the United States, the Houthis threaten further escalation by targeting vital infrastructure in Saudi Arabia, which could cause widespread economic damage that extends beyond the Kingdom’s borders and whose effects extend to the global economy.