- Published
Saturday's attack on King Khalid Airport in Riyadh is another dangerous moment in a region that is already fraught with tension and conflict.
asserted
that → publish → tension
In recent weeks the Houthis have stepped up their attacks on Saudi Arabian soil, but their attacks over the past few days have hit the country's critical infrastructure in the form of the capital's main airport, apparently penetrating Saudi air defences with ease.
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attacks → step → ease
The physical damage can be quickly repaired, but the country's reputation as a safe haven of stability is taking a battering.
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reputation → repair → battering
As well as all the airport attacks, the Houthis have sought to take control of strategically significant positions along the Red Sea coast and around the Bab al-Mandeb Strait.
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Houthis → seek → Strait
This further increases the risk to safe navigation along the vital maritime corridor - although the Yemeni government says it has "secured" the strait.
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it → increase → strait
The civil war in Yemen between the country's government - which is internationally recognised and supported by Saudi Arabia - and the Houthis, who are backed by Iran, has been going on for more than a decade.
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who → recognise → decade
It has left many thousands of people dead and plunged Yemen into one of the world's worst humanitarian crises.
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It → leave → crises
It is a complex and often confusing geopolitical conflict, and this latest escalation needs to be seen in the broader context of the tension between Iran, the United States and Israel.
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escalation → need → Iran
Not since the al-Qaeda insurgency of the mid-2000s has the Kingdom faced such a serious threat.
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Kingdom → face → threat
The Saudi government overcame that challenge through an effective hearts and minds campaign.
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government → overcome → campaign
Then it weathered the Arab Spring uprisings around the region which saw off leaders in Tunisia, Libya, Egypt and Yemen.
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which → weather → Tunisia
It even shrugged off – with some annoyance – an Iranian ballistic missile attack on Riyadh in March.
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It → shrug → March
Saudi Arabia may have one of the most powerful air forces in the Middle East, and it has been carrying out devastating air strikes on Houthi positions.
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it → have → positions
Despite this, the opposing forces have managed to seize large portions of the war-torn country, particularly in the north and west.
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forces → oppose → north
But the Houthis know exactly where to hit back: at the soft underbelly of the Saudi economy.
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Houthis → know → economy
From Jizan on the Red Sea to the petrochemical complex at Khurais, the Houthis are delivering explosive drones and missiles with deadly accuracy.
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Houthis → deliver → accuracy
The Red Sea shipping route has become increasingly important, because the Strait of Hormuz, on the other side of the Gulf, has still not fully reopened since the US and Iran have failed to reach a deal to end their war.
Targeting ships in the Red Sea is another way that the Houthis are trying to exert leverage - the attacks cause global economic damage, which is a key bargaining chip for Tehran.
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which → become → Tehran
In early September, the White House stated it would not directly intervene in the Yemen conflict, but could provide intelligence support to the Saudis.
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it → state → Saudis
It later confirmed that it was supplying intelligence and had deployed military experts to Saudi Arabia.
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it → confirm → Arabia
However the situation may have taken a new turn following the latest attack on Riyadh, which killed a US citizen.
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which → take → citizen
Speaking to reporters, US President Donald Trump called Saturday's attack "terrible" and indicated he may intervene militarily with the Saudis.
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he → speak → Saudis
"We just found out about the recent attack, so we'll make a decision.
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we → find → decision
We move very quickly," Trump said.
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Trump → move → ?
But that now seems unlikely, at least before crucial US midterm elections next month.
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that → seem → elections
When he was re-elected in 2024, Trump promised to end America's role in wars around the world.
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Trump → re → world
Despite this, the US is currently involved in three unresolved conflicts in the Middle East - in Gaza, Lebanon and Iran.
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US → involve → Gaza
Should Trump get embroiled in another one, this time in Yemen, it is unlikely to go down well with voters.
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it → embroil → voters
This war now looks like it will intensify before it ends in another shaky truce - with or without US involvement.
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it → look → involvement
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