Who Are the Houthis and Why Is Fighting Them So Difficult?

Security correspondent Frank Gardner explains how precise attacks by Iran-backed Houthis and their guerrilla tactics have made it difficult for Saudi forces to gain the upper hand.

Who are the Houthis and why is it so difficult to fight them? to close

Saudi Arabia's energy minister has promised to respond to Yemen's Houthi attacks on the country's airports and oil and gas facilities.

This attack takes place after the Houthis fired rockets in attacks all over Riyadh, which left at least 14 dead and more than 300 injured in two attacks on the city's airport. Their military spokesman, Brigadier General Yahya Saree, said they also attacked oil facilities and Dammam airport in eastern Saudi Arabia.

The Houthis said they carried out these attacks in retaliation for "barbaric Saudi aggression" on areas under their control in western Yemen.

The BBC's security correspondent Frank Gardner explains how the Houthis' precision attacks and guerrilla tactics have made it difficult for Saudi forces to gain the upper hand.

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