نسرين حاطوم

Saudi‑Houthi relations have fluctuated between conflict and de‑escalation, shaped by repeated clashes, regional alliances and shifting diplomatic efforts. Long‑standing tensions escalated from border confrontations in 2009 to Saudi Arabia’s 2015 military intervention following the Houthis’ takeover of Sana’a. Houthi missile and drone attacks on Saudi targets, including Aramco facilities, deepened concerns about Iranian support and regional security risks, while Saudi‑led airstrikes contributed to a severe humanitarian crisis in Yemen. A UN‑brokered truce in 2022 ushered in a period of relative calm, enabling Saudi‑Iranian rapprochement and direct negotiations with the Houthis. Recent incidents involving airports in Sana’a and Abha have renewed doubts about the durability of the fragile de‑escalation.