Houthi forces launched a fresh wave of strikes on Saudi Arabia on Wednesday, targeting the southern cities of Abha, Khamis Mushait and Jazan with ballistic missiles and drones. The Saudi-led coalition confirmed the attacks mark the second straight day of assaults on the kingdom’s national assets and energy infrastructure.
Coalition spokesperson Turki al-Malki said the Iran-aligned group continues to hit critical sites. Saudi Civil Defence lifted alerts in Khamis Mushait and Abha after the latest barrage. A day earlier, similar strikes on those cities and nearby areas wounded 73 people and set oil facilities on fire. Al-Malki vowed the coalition would respond responsibly to protect Saudi sovereignty, national assets and civilians.
The Tuesday assault on an airbase in Khamis Mushait and oil infrastructure ranked among the largest Houthi attacks on Saudi soil since the U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran began in February. Fighting between Riyadh and the Houthis has heated up in recent months, raising fears that the long-running Yemen war could fully reignite after a 2022 United Nations truce largely held the peace.
Saudi Arabia heads an Arab coalition supporting a Yemeni government based in the south. That government was forced out of Sanaa by the Houthis 12 years ago. The conflict now forms part of a wider regional struggle, with the Houthis closely tied to Iran and Saudi Arabia aligned with the United States.
In July the Houthis announced a naval blockade against Saudi Arabia in the Red Sea. The coalition answered by striking what it called Houthi military sites in Yemen. In recent days Saudi-backed Yemeni forces launched a multi-pronged offensive against Houthi-held areas after the group tried to push forward. The government says its goal is to reclaim all territory under Houthi control.
Houthi-run Al Masirah TV, citing the group’s health ministry, reported at least 32 people killed in Saudi strikes on Yemen’s Al Jawf over two days. Saudi Arabia has not confirmed those operations. Riyadh calls the latest Houthi attacks a dangerous escalation and says it will take steps to deter further strikes. The Houthis claim their actions respond to Saudi moves inside Yemen.
The renewed violence threatens to drag both sides back into open conflict and could further destabilise the wider region already strained by ongoing wars.
