Yemen/Saudi Arabia: Top Houthi leader killed in Saudi air strike

Event

The president of the Houthi Supreme Political Council, Saleh Al-Sammad, was reportedly killed on Thursday, April 19, along with six associates, in a series of Saudi-led coalition airstrikes in Al-Hudaydah province. Another Houthi leader announced that the group holds the US and Saudi Arabia chiefly responsible for Al-Sammad's death, and has threatened retaliatory measures.

On Monday, April 23, two missiles were fired by the Houthis into southern Saudi Arabia in Jizan province. The ballistic missiles were reportedly targeting a Saudi Aramco facility, but were intercepted and destroyed.

Context

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. The Saudi-led coalition has carried out thousands of airstrikes in Yemen since its intervention began. Hundreds of Yemeni civilians have been killed in the strikes, which have hit schools, hospitals, and markets, in addition to Houthi militant positions and personnel. In total, more than 10,000 Yemenis have died in the fighting and over 2.5 million have been displaced.

As a consequence Saudi Arabia, notably the south, is a frequent target of Houthi attacks; over 100 ballistic missiles have been fired by Houthi rebels into Saudi Arabia since 2015. Notably, on March 25-26, Saudi air defense forces shot down seven missiles, including three over the capital Riyadh (located in the center of the country), which resulted in the death of one person due to falling debris.

Advice

Due to poor security conditions, many Western governments strongly advise their citizens against all travel to Yemen. Travel to the country should only be considered with proper security protocols in place. Professional security advice and support should be sought prior to travel.

Some foreign governments advise their nationals to avoid the Yemeni border in Saudi Arabia area due to the risk of attacks.