The Iran-backed Houthi militias in Yemen have upped their attacks against Saudi Arabia in the past two weeks. These failed attacks have coincided with a series of mysterious explosions that have rocked various facilities in Iran.
The latest Houthi escalation took place this week when they fired seven booby-trapped drones and four ballistic missiles at the Kingdom. They were all intercepted and downed by the Saudi-led Arab coalition.
Observers said it was not unusual for Tehran to seek such an escalation, especially ahead of the American presidential elections in November, and given the numerous local crises it is grappling with. They noted that it resorts to escalation in order to pressure the international community and save its regime.
Senior research fellow at the Gulf Research Center, Dr. Hesham Alghannam said that every time Iran endures a setback, it carries out a flagrant attack in an attempt to divert attention away from the pressure it is coming under.
The pressure is aimed at altering its hostile behavior against its neighbors and the world. The international community, therefore, must be alert to its tricks and connect developments to each other, he urged. It must not be blind to the fact that a regional party - Iran - is involved in Yemen and does not want its crisis to end.
The recent Houthi attack brings to 322 the number of ballistic missiles and 379 the number of drones they have fired at Saudi Arabia since the eruption of the Yemeni conflict.
