Saudi-backed forces in Yemen have launched a military campaign to defeat the Houthi militia, while Houthi strikes keep hitting Saudi airports. Riyadh's airport remains suspended after four attacks in a week, and several oil chiefs skipped a major energy congress in the city.
Forces loyal to Yemen's internationally recognized government have launched a campaign to defeat the Houthis, with backing from Saudi Arabia. The offensive has reportedly led to the recapture of several strategic areas near the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, according to Crypto Briefing. The Houthis, however, still control much of northern Yemen.
Houthis control Sanaa and much of the north
The campaign is backed by Saudi Arabia under the leadership of Rashad al-Alimi, chairman of the Presidential Leadership Council. The conflict dates to 2014, when the Houthis seized Sanaa, and Saudi Arabia intervened militarily in 2015, according to Crypto Briefing.
Crypto Briefing cites market pricing that indicates a low probability of Houthi forces entering Aden. It puts the odds of 5.1% that Houthi forces enter Aden by October 31, 2026, and 25.5% by December 31, 2026.
Meanwhile, Houthi strikes have kept landing on Saudi territory. The Financial Times reports that missiles struck Riyadh's main airport for the fourth time in a week, hours before the World Petroleum Congress opened in the city. The worst attack hit Terminal 3 on Saturday and killed 12 people and injured more than 300.
Saudi authorities have blamed the Houthis for all the strikes. The kingdom's civil aviation authority said Riyadh airport operations would remain suspended and did not say when it might reopen. Cirium counted more than 6,000 flights into Saudi Arabia cancelled since Thursday's attack.
Oil chiefs stay away from the energy congress
The chief executives of ExxonMobil, TotalEnergies, Shell and BP were all expected to attend but withdrew, according to two people with knowledge of the matter, as the FT reports.
Saudi energy minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman opened the congress defiantly. According to the FT, he said: "The word fear in the Saudi dictionary does not exist".
Sources: Crypto Briefing, Financial Times
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