Black Smoke over Riyadh: The Unsettling Normalization of Threats in the Region The plume of black smoke near King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh on Saturday was a stark reminder of the escalating tensions between Saudi Arabia and Yemen's Iranian backed Houthi militants.
This incident, though disturbing, evokes a sense of familiarity – it is no longer an extraordinary event but rather an unsettling norm that has been building for years.
The recent string of attacks by the Houthis, including their reported targeting of Mecca just days prior to this incident, raises questions about Saudi Arabia's military response and its broader strategy in Yemen.