Houthi attacks injure 73 civilians in southern Saudi Arabia

At least 73 civilians were injured in Houthi attacks targeting cities and economic infrastructure in southern Saudi Arabia, Saudi authorities said Tuesday, as Riyadh warned against continued attacks on civilians and commercial shipping.

In a statement, the Saudi Foreign Ministry strongly condemned the attacks by Yemen’s Houthi group on civilian and economic facilities in Abha, Khamis Mushait, Jazan and Najran, saying they injured 73 civilians, including women and children.

The ministry also denounced the group’s continued targeting of commercial vessels in the Red Sea, saying the attacks threaten freedom of international maritime navigation.

It reiterated Saudi Arabia’s rejection of what it called the Houthis’ “hostile approach and criminal behavior,” saying they threaten the security and stability of Yemen and its Arab and Islamic surroundings and undermine peace efforts.

The ministry affirmed the kingdom’s right to take all necessary measures to defend its sovereignty and national capabilities and protect the security and safety of its citizens and residents.

It also warned against the Houthis’ continued targeting of civilians and civilian facilities and called for an immediate halt to all forms of escalation and continuing threats to maritime security.

Riyadh called on the international community to shoulder its responsibilities and implement relevant UN Security Council resolutions, particularly resolutions 2216 of 2015 and 2722 of 2024.

In a separate statement, the Saudi Energy Ministry said fires broke out at energy facilities and installations following attacks in the country’s southern region.

The attacks caused a temporary halt to some operations at the targeted sites, the ministry said, adding that specialized teams had begun containing the fires and securing the facilities.

‘Senseless attacks’

Separately, Saudi-led coalition spokesperson Maj. Gen. Turki al-Maliki accused the Houthis of launching “senseless attacks” against civilian and commercial sites in Abha, Khamis Mushait, Jazan and Najran.

Al-Maliki characterized the strikes as a “dangerous escalation” and a “blatant violation” of Saudi Arabia’s sovereignty.

He accused the group of deliberate “extremist and criminal behavior” that undermines peace and stability in Yemen and neighboring Arab states.

Al-Maliki affirmed that the Joint Forces Command of the coalition would deploy “all necessary operational measures” to deter the attacks and protect Saudi citizens.

The coalition also vowed to take all necessary measures to neutralize the sources of the threat.

In a concurrent statement, the Yemeni army declared its “complete readiness” to stand “steadfastly” alongside Saudi Arabia.

The military leadership backed Riyadh’s “absolute right to take whatever measures it deems appropriate” to defend its security, stability and sovereignty, expressing preparedness to coordinate to “eliminate the sources of threat and chaos.”

The attacks came as Yemeni government forces reported significant battlefield gains on Monday across four separate fronts.

According to Yemen’s official Saba news agency, the military advances took place in the Al-Jawf, Al-Bayda, Taiz and Al-Hudaydah governorates, following a vow by Presidential Leadership Council Chairman Rashad al-Alimi to sustain operations until state authority is fully restored.

The recent fighting has raised fears of a return to full-scale conflict, disrupting a relative lull observed since April 2022.

Yemen has suffered nearly 12 years of war since the Iranian-backed Houthis seized the capital Sanaa in 2014.

​​​​​​​The Houthis have also targeted commercial shipping in the Red Sea, while Saudi Arabia, the principal external actor backing Yemen’s internationally recognized government, announced a mission in July to form an international maritime alliance.

Saudi Arabia reports fires, operational disruptions at energy facilities after Houthi attacks

Fires broke out at energy facilities in southern Saudi Arabia following attacks targeting the sites, the Saudi Energy Ministry said Tuesday.

The ministry added in a statement that the attacks caused a temporary halt to some operations at the targeted facilities.

“Specialized teams have begun containing the fires and securing the affected sites,” it said.

The statement came after Saudi authorities said early Tuesday that attacks by Yemen’s Houthi group targeted civilian and economic facilities in the southern cities of Abha, Khamis Mushait, Jazan and Najran, injuring at least 73 civilians, including women and children.

​​​​​​​The Saudi-led coalition called the attacks a “dangerous escalation” and vowed to take necessary operational measures to neutralize the sources of threats.

2 children killed, 15 injured in Houthi shelling of displaced people in Yemen’s Marib

Two children were killed and 15 people injured in Houthi shelling targeting a gathering of displaced people in Yemen’s central Marib province, local authorities said Tuesday.

The government-run local authority said in a statement that the Houthis fired several projectiles at a gathering of displaced people in the Raghwan district in northern Marib on Monday evening.

The attack killed two children and injured 15 people, including eight children, it said.

The shelling also caused extensive damage to the homes and property of displaced families.

According to the statement, around 16 shelters and their contents were destroyed, leaving 23 families without accommodation and basic belongings, while three vehicles were also damaged.

There was no immediate comment from the Houthi group on the statement.

Yemen’s Houthis confirm attacks on Saudi Arabia, vow to continue strikes deep inside kingdom

Yemen’s Houthi group on Tuesday confirmed carrying out large-scale missile and drone attacks on Saudi Arabia and vowed to continue operations deep inside the kingdom amid a sharp escalation between the two sides.

In a statement, Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Saree said the group carried out a “large-scale” military operation using dozens of ballistic missiles and drones.

He said the attacks targeted Aramco facilities in Abha, Najran and Jizan, as well as Khamis Mushait Air Base.

Saree claimed the strikes were “precise and direct” and caused extensive damage to the targeted facilities.

The Houthi spokesperson said the operation was in response to Saudi airstrikes in Yemen, claiming that Saudi Arabia had carried out 121 strikes over the past three days in Marib, Al-Bayda, Al-Hudaydah, Taiz and Al-Jawf provinces.

He also accused Saudi Arabia of striking the Central Prison in Al-Hazm, Al-Jawf, causing casualties among inmates and visitors, including women and children.

“We will continue our operations deep inside Saudi territory, target its military buildups, and consolidate the equation of ‘blockade for blockade’ until the aggression stops and the blockade on our dear country is lifted,” Saree said.

The statement came after Saudi authorities said earlier Tuesday that Houthi attacks on Abha, Khamis Mushait, Jizan and Najran injured at least 73 civilians, including women and children.

The Saudi Energy Ministry also reported fires at energy facilities in the kingdom’s southern region and said some operations at the targeted sites were temporarily halted.

Saudi-led coalition spokesperson Maj. Gen. Turki al-Maliki called the attacks a “dangerous escalation” and said the coalition would take all necessary operational measures to deter the Houthis and neutralize sources of threats.