Escalation in the Arabian Peninsula: 73 Injured in Houthi Attack on Saudi Arabia

The Houthis reported this morning (Tuesday) that they had carried out a wide-ranging attack in Saudi Arabia. According to them, an airport, a military base and facilities belonging to Saudi oil company Aramco were targeted with missiles and drones. Saudi Arabia said it would respond to the attack.

According to a CNN report, the Houthi attacks hit several Saudi towns and cities, marking a dramatic escalation in the conflict, which flared up again in July with missile attacks on Saudi oil facilities and ships.

At least 73 people, including women and children, were injured, said Gen. Turki al-Maliki, spokesperson for the Saudi-led coalition forces, who described the attacks as "dangerous" and "senseless." He said the Houthis targeted "civilian and economic sites" in the cities of Abha, Khamis Mushait, Jazan and Najran, all in western Saudi Arabia.

Saudi Arabia's Energy Ministry said the attacks caused fires at several sites in the southern region, temporarily halting some operations.

The coalition's Joint Forces Command, the Saudi-led group fighting the Houthis during Yemen's years-long civil war, "will firmly confront the hostile approach (of the Houthis)," al-Maliki said. "The kingdom affirms its legitimate right to take all necessary measures to defend its sovereignty," the Saudi Foreign Ministry announced on X.

In the afternoon, the Houthi Al-Masirah channel reported that Saudi Arabia had launched a wave of strikes in Houthi-controlled territory in Yemen. The strikes were in Marib province.

As a reminder, more than a month ago the Houthis also declared a blockade on Saudi shipping using the Red Sea,  a vital outlet for the kingdom's crude oil since Iran tried to block the Strait of Hormuz. They also targeted Red Sea coast refineries operated by Saudi oil giant Aramco. In addition to Houthi missile and drone attacks targeting Saudi Arabia, ground fighting has broken out in recent weeks between the Houthis and Saudi-backed forces in Yemen.