At least 73 people, including women and children, were injured after Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthi movement launched missile and drone attacks on southern Saudi Arabia, targeting civilian and energy infrastructure in a major escalation of the renewed conflict.
The attacks struck the Saudi cities of Abha, Khamis Mushait, Jazan and Najran, according to Major General Turki al-Malki, spokesman for the Saudi-led coalition fighting in Yemen. Saudi authorities described the attacks as a serious escalation and a direct threat to the kingdom’s sovereignty and security.
Saudi Arabia’s Energy Ministry said several energy-sector facilities and installations were hit early Tuesday, triggering fires and forcing the temporary suspension of some operations.
Emergency and firefighting teams were deployed to contain the blazes and assess the extent of the damage, while authorities said measures were being taken to protect the facilities, workers and continuity of operations.
The strikes reportedly affected facilities operated by Saudi oil giant Aramco, including infrastructure in Jazan. The Jazan refinery has a crude-processing capacity of about 400,000 barrels per day, making the attacks particularly significant for Saudi Arabia’s energy sector and global oil markets. The full extent of the damage was still being assessed.
The Houthis claimed responsibility, saying they had launched a large-scale operation involving dozens of ballistic missiles and drones against Saudi energy facilities and military targets.
Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree said the attacks were carried out in retaliation for recent Saudi strikes on Houthi-held areas in Yemen.
The Saudi-led coalition condemned the attacks as a “dangerous escalation” and said it would take necessary operational measures to confront the Houthis and protect the kingdom.
The latest escalation comes amid renewed fighting between the Houthis and Saudi-backed forces supporting Yemen’s internationally recognised government. Large-scale hostilities had substantially eased following a United Nations-brokered truce in 2022, but fighting has intensified sharply in recent weeks.
The Houthis have also expanded their activities around the Red Sea, including declaring a blockade against Saudi shipping and targeting Saudi-linked vessels. Their advance towards areas near the Bab al-Mandeb Strait has heightened concerns over the security of one of the world’s critical maritime corridors linking the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden.
The escalation is occurring against a broader backdrop of heightened tensions involving Iran, the United States and regional powers, with disruptions around the Strait of Hormuz already putting pressure on global energy markets.
Oil prices rose following the attacks, with Brent crude approaching $100 per barrel and US crude trading above $93, reflecting renewed concerns over possible disruptions to oil production and transportation in the region.
The developments are particularly significant for global energy security because Saudi Arabia is the world’s largest oil exporter, meaning prolonged disruption to its production or export infrastructure could have wider consequences for international supply and prices.
The renewed fighting is also deepening Yemen’s humanitarian crisis. The World Health Organization said about 1,078 people had been killed or wounded since August 24, while more than 21,000 people had been displaced since the latest offensive began.
With the Houthis threatening further attacks and Saudi Arabia vowing a response, the latest escalation has raised fresh concerns that the conflict could widen beyond Yemen and further destabilise the wider Middle East.
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