A barrage of Saudi airstrikes hit Houthi-held territories in Yemen March 29 and 30 as the war has entered its sixth year. Saudi warplanes bombed various locations in Sanaa, including the military academy. Reports have put the Sanaa strikes on March 30 alone at 25. Other air raids pounded multiple locations in Hodeidah as well as Amran and Saada governorates.

The escalation means continued war and suffering in Yemen. While the Saudi-led Arab coalition justifies the extensive aerial bombing to fend off what it calls the imminent Houthi threat, the Houthis say have been acting to defend themselves and the areas under their control.

The Royal Saudi Air Defense Forces intercepted two Houthi ballistic missiles over Riyadh on March 28. Lt. Col. Mohammed al-Hammadi, media spokesperson for the Civil Defense in the Riyadh region, said the missiles exploded in the air and two civilians were injured when the wreckage landed. The attack on Riyadh provoked a brutal response including a flood of Saudi airstrikes on Yemen.

Col. Turki al-Maliki, the spokesperson for the Saudi-led coalition, stated March 30 that the purpose of the airstrikes is to “neutralize and destroy” Houthis’ military targets. Specifically, he pointed out that the strikes were intended to destroy the Houthis' military capabilities and Iranian operatives as well as the storage, assembly and installation sites of ballistic missiles and weapons depots.