Yemen's Houthi rebels have been continuously attacking the multinational forces led by Saudi Arabia in recent days. On November 4th, local time, the US newspaper The Wall Street Journal reported that after the Houthi rebels attacked Saudi oil ships in the Red Sea and seized the Strait of Mandeb, Saudi officials approached the Houthi rebels to ask how hostilities could be ended through negotiations. The Houthi rebels offered $51 billion in compensation, stating that this amount would be used to cover the losses caused by Saudi air strikes over the years and long-term blockades.
According to people familiar with the negotiations, the two sides discussed other amounts later on. However, the information conveyed by the Houthi movement is clear: if Saudi Arabia wants to withdraw from this conflict, the cost could be as high as several billion dollars. In addition, the Houthi movement has also been mentioned as demanding that Saudi Arabia officially recognize them as the rulers of Yemen.
As of press time, neither the Saudi government nor the Houthi militant leadership has responded to this matter.
Recently, Saudi Arabia and the Houthi forces have increased their mutual attacks. The fighting between the Houthi forces and the Yemeni government forces supported by Saudi Arabia has become increasingly intense on multiple fronts.
On the evening of November 4 local time, the Houthi forces issued a statement stating that in the past 24 hours, Saudi-led multinational forces carried out 104 air strikes and missile attacks on Yemen’s capital Sanaa, as well as Jaff, Beida, Saada, Amran, Malib, Taiz, and Al-Rahadah provinces. These attacks resulted in several dozen casualties, most of whom were women and children. The statement also mentioned that since the new round of military escalation, Saudi Arabia has conducted a total of 4,136 air strikes and missile attacks against Yemen.
Earlier that day, Houthi military spokesman Yahya Sareer said that the Houthi forces used ballistic missiles and drones to attack King Fahd International Airport in Riyadh, as well as several military facilities in Saudi Arabia near the Yemen border.
Sareya said on social media, "The missile hit the target directly, and airport facilities were severely damaged." The statement warned that King Khalid International Airport is currently not safe. Houthi militants once again called on airlines, airport staff, and passengers around the world to avoid flying through Saudi airspace, except over Mecca and Medina.
The statement also said that the Houla militant group carried out three military operations that morning: using drones to attack a radar facility on the Ghaamah Peninsula north of Saudi Jizan; using ballistic missiles to strike an Akif military camp in Najiran, Saudi Arabia; and using ballistic missiles to target a command and control building of the Saudi border security force in Jizan. These actions resulted in deaths and injuries to several Saudi officers and soldiers. The Saudi side has not responded to this incident yet.
