(CNN)-- A Saudi spokesperson said the Saudi air defenses intercepted a ballistic missile launched by the Iran-backed Houthi group on Monday.

The interception came after the Houthis accused Saudi Arabia of carrying out strikes on an airport in the Yemeni capital, warning that such attacks would end a de facto ceasefire that had been in place for years between the two sides.

The Houthi group, which controls northern Yemen, is one of Iran's most prominent allies in the region. Since the start of tensions between the United States and Iran, it has repeatedly warned that it might take action to close the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, a vital waterway located at the southern end of the Red Sea.

This waterway has gained new importance since the outbreak of the conflict, as Saudi Arabia has been rerouting millions of barrels of crude oil through it to avoid passing through the Strait of Hormuz.

The Houthis had earlier launched missiles towards Israel and targeted commercial ships in the Red Sea, following the outbreak of the Israeli war on Hamas in the Gaza Strip in October 2023.

Here is a look at the map above showing the areas under Houthi control in Yemen.