Houthis Threaten Riyadh as Tensions Escalate with Saudi-Led Coalition
The Houthi movement threatened to strike Riyadh in response to any Saudi attack on Sanaa, escalating tensions amid reports of coalition airstrikes and mutual evacuation warnings.
The military spokesman for the Houthi movement threatened on Tuesday that any Saudi airstrike on Sanaa will be met with a retaliatory strike on Riyadh. The threat came in response to a warning issued earlier by the spokesman for the Saudi-led coalition, who called for the evacuation of the Yemeni Oil Company site in Sanaa.
Meanwhile, media outlets affiliated with the Houthis reported Saudi airstrikes in the northern Yemeni province of Saada. In response, the Houthi spokesman warned officials and civilians located near facilities of the Saudi oil giant Aramco, urging them to evacuate the area.
This exchange of threats follows statements from the pro-Saudi government in Yemen regarding intentions to capture Sanaa, which is currently under Houthi control. According to a source familiar with the details, the anti-Houthi camp faces significant organizational hurdles, including low motivation, tribal loyalties within the Yemeni military, and tensions between Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.
"Capturing Sanaa is possible, but it would involve a bloodbath," the source stated, noting that the Houthis have evolved into a disciplined and organized force rather than a simple militia. He warned that taking the city without a fundamental blow to the leadership would result in a prolonged quagmire.
