Yemen’s Houthis escalated their attacks on Saudi Arabia on Saturday, targeting Riyadh and Aramco facilities in Yanbu, while the Saudi-led coalition says it intercepted a ballistic missile over the capital. The attacks come as Turkiye’s foreign minister vows support for Saudi Arabia, raising questions about how far Ankara might get involved. Mahmoud Shahrani, an associate fellow of the Middle East and North Africa programme at Chatham House, told Al Jazeera that the developments in Yemen should not be separated from the Strait of Hormuz, saying Iran is seeking another pressure tool in Yemen while facing significant pressure from the US. He said the Houthis are trying to neutralise their enemies and avoid an inclusive war, having threatened Pakistan and Turkey against supporting the Saudis, in an effort to isolate Saudi Arabia and the Yemeni government from other allies. On Turkey’s vow of support, Shahrani said it depends on whether Riyadh directly requests its involvement and on the level of Saudi-Turkish cooperation, adding that the question cannot be answered yet. He said the Houthis’ escalation strategy has two tracks: targeting Saudi territory and civilian and economic infrastructure, while also targeting the Yemeni government. He said this is part of their tactics to consolidate their gains in Bab el-Mandeb and along Yemen’s west coast, while keeping Saudi Arabia on the defensive and preventing it from resuming the initiative.
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