Saudi Arabia: Yemeni Houthis threaten to attack Saudi cities

Event

The deputy spokesman for the Houthi rebels in Yemen threatened on Wednesday, August 9, to attack Saudi cities with modified missiles should Riyadh continue its involvement in Yemen's civil war. The group has reportedly collected intelligence on sensitive high-value targets throughout Saudi Arabia. However, several experts have cast doubt on the rebels' claim to have missiles capable of reaching up to 1000 km (620 mi). Additionally, Saudi Arabia hosts the US-made MIM-104 Patriot missile defense system, intended to intercept and destroy such missiles.

Context

Saudi Arabia is heavily involved in Yemen's complex and deadly civil war, ongoing since Houthi rebels started a conflict with the Yemeni government, supported by a Saudi-led coalition, in 2015. Approximately 10,000 Yemenis have died in the fighting and over 2.5 million have been displaced. The devastating war has also sparked a cholera outbreak, which has affected approximately 350,000 people to date.

Advice

Given the prevailing terrorist risk in Saudi Arabia, those present in the country are advised to exercise caution at all times, avoid public places lacking deemed particularly likely to be targeted in the event of an attack (e.g. official buildings, military zones, etc.), and report all suspicious objects or behavior to authorities.