Recently, the conflict between Saudi Arabia and Houthis took a very dangerous turn when the Houthi rebels launched a long range ballistic missile over the border deep inside the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia on October 28, 2016. Accounts of the missile’s intended target vary: the Saudi government states that the attack was intended for the holy city of Makkah, while the Houthis claim that it targeted Jeddah’s airport, which is at a good distance from the holiest of holy sites for the Muslims. After this attempt by the rebels, Saudi Arabia and many of its Gulf allies have taken this opportunity to question the intentions and belief of Houthis and their supporters. Head of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Abdullatif Al-Zayani said in a statement, “The council considers this brutal assault, which violates the sanctity of this country, a provocation to the feelings of Muslims, and disregard for Islamic holy sites, and evidence of Houthis’ refusal to obey the will of the international community and its decisions, to apply the existing armistice, and tireless efforts to reach a political solution to the crisis in Yemen.”
