‘Aren’t we a ragtag mess 10 years ago’… Saudi Arabia has no choice in Houthi offensive

(Seoul = Yonhap News) Reporter Kim A-ram = As Yemen's pro-Iran rebels Houthi intensify their offensive targeting Saudi Arabia's capital Riyadh, Saudi Arabia's crown prince Mohammed bin Salman, the de facto leader in Saudi Arabia, is struggling to come up with countermeasures.

However, experts point out that Saudi Arabia's options are limited as the Houthi rebels have rapidly grown into a force that is difficult to suppress militarily and political negotiations are not easy.

The American daily New York Times (NYT) diagnosed on the 11th (local time) that the asymmetry of the conflict between the Houthis and Saudi Arabia was highlighted as the Houthis conducted three airstrikes on Riyadh's King Khalid International Airport in the past week.

A missile strike targeting the airport on the 10th killed 13 people and injured more than 300, making it the deadliest attack in Saudi Arabia since the 2015 mosque suicide bombing.

Then, just one day later, an unidentified projectile struck the airport, killing one person and injuring 11 others.

The Houthis claim the attack was revenge. They are taking direct aim at Crown Prince bin Salman's ambition to transform Saudi Arabia, which relies on oil, into a global business and tourism center.

In particular, concerns about safety are growing as Saudi Arabia is about to host large-scale events, including an annual investment conference attended by world leaders and corporate executives.

However, there are many observations that Crown Prince Bin Salman does not have a suitable solution. As the Houthi rebels' demands grow, a political solution has become more difficult, and military suppression attempts are also unlikely to succeed.

The Houthis have little to lose, and their combat experience has become richer as they have repeatedly fought opponents more powerful than themselves. Yemen's capital, Sanaa, which is controlled by Houthi rebels, has already been largely destroyed.

F. Gregory Goss, a Saudi expert at the U.S. think tank Middle East Institute (MEI), said, “Saudi Arabia’s problem is that when the Houthis attack Saudi infrastructure, the damage it suffers is much greater than if the Houthis attacked Saudi infrastructure.”

“The attack on Riyadh airport could change the minds of those considering investing in Saudi Arabia,” he added.

After taking control of Yemen's capital Sanaa in 2014, the Houthi rebels survived the Saudi-led military intervention the following year and solidified their control over northern Yemen.

Crown Prince bin Salman, who became Saudi Defense Minister at the age of 29, declared war, saying he would drive out the Houthis and restore the Yemeni government.

Since then, Bin Salman has consolidated his power at home and abroad, but the Houthis, who were close to a ragtag bunch, have also gradually gained combat experience, becoming more powerful and increasing their ability to stand on their own feet, NYT explained.

Abdulghani Al-Iriani, a senior researcher at the Sana'a Center, a Yemeni think tank, pointed out, "Saudi Arabia has maintained that it is a powerful kingdom and that its security cannot be threatened by a ragtag militia. Even though that illusion has been completely shattered, it still maintains that appearance on the outside."

Yasmin Farouk, a Gulf and Arabian Peninsula expert at the International Crisis Group (ICG), predicted that Saudi Arabia is likely to try to weaken the Houthis' offensive capabilities ahead of negotiations. He believed that it was too early to enter into negotiations with the Houthis, given their current offensive capabilities.

In the end, some say that ending the war between the United States and Iran is the key to resolving the situation.

“The only realistic solution for Saudi Arabia is to end the war between the United States and Iran,” said Goss, a Saudi expert at the Middle East Institute. “The United States must receive a commitment from Iran to stop hostilities against the Houthis as part of a comprehensive agreement.”