Bahrain Says 2 Soldiers Killed in Houthi Drone Attack

Facts

• Bahrain’s military command said that Yemen's Houthi rebels killed a Bahraini officer and soldier in a drone attack on Monday while they were patrolling Saudi Arabia’s southern border with Yemen, with several other soldiers reportedly being wounded in the strike.¹
• The internationally-recognized Yemeni government has condemned the attack, with Foreign Minister Ahmed Bin Mubarak saying he spoke with his Bahraini counterpart to offer his condolences and solidarity.²
• Additionally, the Saudi-led coalition warned the Houthis that such 'hostile and provocative actions' aren't in line with the positive efforts underway to end the crisis, adding that it “reserves the right to respond at the appropriate time and place.'²
• The Houthis, who are currently engaged in peace talks with Riyadh, didn't immediately claim the attack. It's unknown what effect this incident may have on ongoing peace efforts.¹
• Though a six-month truce between the Houthis and the coalition expired last October, major fighting hasn't broken out. The first round of Oman-brokered consultations between Riyadh and Sanaa, which run in parallel with UN mediation efforts, was held in April when Saudi envoys visited the Yemeni capital.³
• The Yemen conflict erupted in 2014 when the Houthis captured Sanaa and much of the country's north, eventually forcing the Yemeni government into exile in Saudi Arabia. Over 150K people have reportedly been killed in the war, which has resulted in one of the world's worst humanitarian crises.⁴

Sources: ¹Associated Press, ²Al Jazeera, ³I24news and ⁴Abc news.

Narratives

• Pro-establishment narrative, as provided by The national. The Houthis should think twice about such treacherous and provocative acts. Last month, the Houthis attacked an electrical power distribution station and a police station in the border region, which only makes peace talks more difficult. Positive steps toward a lasting peace in Yemen are being made. However, the Houthis must avoid any military action that could enflame what is a very fragile situation.
• Establishment-critical narrative, as provided by Al mayadeen english. Though there's no need for this incident to escalate the situation, it should be made clear that the soldiers who were targeted were reportedly operating an artillery battery near the border and were firing into Yemeni territory and villages on a daily basis. Is this not a provocation? Either way, the Houthis are committed to ending the war in Yemen, and hopefully, both sides can move past unfortunate incidents such as this one.

Predictions