Escalation in Yemen Conflict Heightens Regional Tensions, Puts Saudi Arabia on High Alert
The recent escalation in the conflict between the Houthi rebels and the Saudi-UAE coalition has put Saudi Arabia on high alert. The Houthi rebels attempted to launch a missile towards Israel, which has further heightened tensions in the region. This comes after a period of relative progress towards a peace deal, despite a previous Houthi drone attack that resulted in the death of four Bahraini soldiers.
The relationship between Saudi Arabia and Israel has experienced fluctuations. Just over a year ago, Saudi Arabia started allowing Israeli flights to pass through its airspace, signaling a thaw in relations. However, recent events, including the Hamas attack on southern Israel and subsequent Israeli strikes in Gaza, have strained this relationship. The Abraham Accords, a series of normalization agreements between Israel and Arab states, have also faced setbacks.
In addition to the situation in Yemen, there have been recent attacks on American forces in Iraq. Rockets were fired at Iraq’s Ain al-Asad air base, which hosts both US and international forces. Attacks on US forces in Iraq and Syria have become frequent, despite recent airstrikes on Iranian targets in Syria by the US.
Overall, the situation in the Middle East remains complex and volatile, with various regional actors and geopolitical interests at play.
