Saudi Arabia has vowed to respond to a series of drone and missile attacks launched by Yemen's Houthi rebels that targeted civilian areas and energy facilities in multiple Saudi cities. The attacks, which occurred in Abha, Khamis Mushait, Jazan, and Najran, injured 73 people and caused fires at several energy sector installations, leading to a temporary halt in some operations, according to Saudi authorities.
Maj Gen Turki al-Maliki, spokesman for the Saudi-led coalition, described the assaults as a "dangerous escalation" that "confirms the hostile and irresponsible approach of this terrorist militia." He stated that the coalition would "take all necessary operational measures to deter" the Houthi group.
The Houthi military spokesman, Yahya Sarea, claimed responsibility for the attacks, stating they were retaliation for over 120 Saudi-led airstrikes on Yemeni provinces, including Marib, al-Bayda, Hudaydah, Taiz, and Jawf, over the preceding three days. Sarea asserted that the Houthi response involved "dozens of ballistic missiles and drones" that inflicted "significant damage."
This exchange of attacks escalates the ongoing conflict in Yemen, where a Saudi-led coalition has been supporting the internationally recognized government against the Houthi movement for over a decade. An informal four-year ceasefire began to weaken in July, with the Houthis announcing a "maritime embargo" against Saudi Arabia and initiating missile and drone strikes on Saudi airports, oil facilities, and tankers in the Red Sea.
The Houthis have cited the Saudi blockade of ports and airports in their territory, as well as a Saudi airstrike on Sanaa airport, as reasons for their retaliatory actions. Heavy fighting has also been reported on Yemen's south-western coast since Thursday, following a Houthi offensive aimed at controlling the Bab al-Mandab Strait, a vital waterway connecting the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden. These clashes have reportedly resulted in over 300 deaths and displaced 18,500 people.
The Red Sea has become increasingly important for oil shipments from Saudi Arabia, particularly during the ongoing conflict involving the United States and Israel against Iran, which has led to the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz.