Yemen: Deadly clashes near Saudi-Yemeni border July 2

Event

On Sunday, July 2, a Saudi soldier was killed in clashes with Houthi rebels near the Saudi southern border with Yemen, according to the Saudi official news agency. The exact location of the clashes has not been reported.

Context

The southern region of Saudi Arabia is a frequent target of Houthi attacks and cross-border incidents are common. Missiles fired from inside Yemen often land on Saudi soil or are intercepted by Saudi air defense systems and Houthi rebels often cross into Saudi territory to target Saudi soldiers.

Yemen is engaged in a complex and deadly conflict, ongoing since Houthi rebels entered into a civil war with the Yemeni government, supported by a Saudi-led coalition, in 2015. Two rounds of UN-backed peace talks have failed to resolve the conflict in Yemen. Thousands of Yemeni fatalities are estimated and an approximately 2.5 million people displaced.

Advice

The security environment in Yemen remains complex. Although travel is permissible in some areas, other areas should be considered strictly off limits. Professional security advice and support should be sought prior to travel. Many Western governments advise their citizens against all travel to the country.