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Riyadh missile: The last thing Yemen's war needs

The conflict in Yemen needs urgent fresh thinking and a negotiated settlement - a missile aimed at Riyadh won't help.

Supporters of the Shiite Houthi movement raise their weapons during a gathering in the capital Sanaa, on August 24, 2017, to mobilize more fighters in the conflict against pro-government forces. /
Image: Supporters of the Shiite Houthi movement in Yemen's capital Sanaa
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Yemen's Houthi rebels have fired missiles into Saudi Arabia before - even one aimed at Mecca, and another at an oil field.

But - and with surprising accuracy - is a significant escalation.

The Houthis have a stockpile of what they call Burkan or Volcano missiles, their homegrown variant of the Scud. It is less likely, but possible, that the missile was supplied by their Iranian backers.

This is a serious provocation and what matters next is how the Saudis choose to respond.

Yemen has been gripped by a nasty civil war for two and a half years. Houthi rebels are backed by Iran; their rivals are supported by the Saudis and other Gulf Arab militaries.

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Image: The missile, intercepted near the Saudi capital Riyadh, is a serious provocation

The Saudis have led a devastating air campaign that has killed thousands and wounded tens of thousands of people, wrecked much of the civilian infrastructure of the country and failed to defeat the Houthis' uprising.

The British supply some of the weaponry being used by the Saudis and provide advisers in their command and control centre through the UK.

More on Saudi Arabia

A map showing the location of the airport relative to the centre of Riyadh
Image: A map showing the location of the airport, where the missile was intercepted

A humanitarian disaster has unfolded in what was already a desperately poor country, including outbreaks of cholera and starvation.

The conflict desperately needs fresh thinking, international mediation and progress towards a negotiated settlement.

The last thing it needs is escalation in the form of a missile aimed at Riyadh airport and the Saudi retribution that is likely to follow.