Cairo [Egypt], July 19: Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthi militia has warned neighbouring Saudi Arabia that it could impose a "siege" in response to recent attacks.
The militia was prepared to apply the principle of "siege for siege, airport for airport and port for port," Yemen's Saba news agency quoted Houthi Defence Minister Mohammed Al-Atafi as saying.
He was apparently referring to an airstrike earlier this week on the airport in the capital Sana'a, which the Houthis blamed on Saudi Arabia.
Shortly afterwards, the Defence Ministry of Yemen's internationally recognized government, which is backed by Saudi Arabia, claimed responsibility for the attack. It said the strike was intended to prevent an Iranian aircraft from landing in Yemen.
The Houthis vowed retaliation. Saudi Arabia later said it had intercepted a missile attack.
On Thursday, Houthi leader Abdel-Malik Al-Houthi threatened Saudi Arabia with attacks on targets including oil facilities and airports.
The Houthis are regarded as one of Iran's most important non-state allies.
A further escalation in the war between Washington and Tehran could see the
militia once again attack shipping at the entrance to the Red Sea, potentially bringing traffic through the Suez
Canal shipping route to a standstill.
Renewed fighting between Saudi Arabia and the Houthis, which would effectively extend the Iran war to the Saudi kingdom, could also complicate Pakistan's mediation efforts between Washington and Tehran, according to Pakistani diplomatic sources.
Pakistan, which has maintained a military alliance with Saudi Arabia since last year, could then be "forced to enter the conflict," a Pakistani diplomat told DPA.
Source: Qatar Tribune
