In brief
Yemen’s Iran‑backed Houthi movement fired a swarm of drones and missiles at Saudi cities including Abha, Khamis Mushait, Jazan and Najran, setting fire to several oil facilities and causing temporary operational halts. The assault injured 73 civilians, many women and children, according to Saudi officials. Maj‑Gen Turki al‑Maliki condemned the attacks as a dangerous escalation and pledged that the coalition would take all necessary operational measures to deter the Houthi militia. The Houthis justified their strikes as retaliation for a wave of Saudi air‑strikes on Yemeni territories. With tensions rising in the Red Sea, the conflict threatens to impact global oil routes.
Yemen’s Iran‑backed Houthi movement launched a barrage of drones and missiles against Saudi Arabia’s south‑western cities, igniting fires at oil facilities and causing temporary shutdowns of operations. According to Saudi authorities, the attack injured 73 civilians, including women and children.
Maj‑Gen Turki al‑Maliki, spokesman for the Saudi‑led coalition in Yemen, condemned the assaults as a “dangerous escalation” that confirmed the hostile approach of the Houthi militia. The coalition vowed to take all necessary operational measures to deter the group.
In retaliation for recent Saudi strikes on Yemeni areas, the Houthis claimed to have launched dozens of ballistic missiles and drones, claiming significant damage. Their attacks are part of a broader struggle that has seen a steady rise in hostilities across the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden.
With the Red Sea now a critical route for international oil shipments amid shifting geopolitical tensions, the conflict poses a risk to global energy security.
