Saudi Arabia has warned Yemen’s Houthis that it will respond “firmly” after a wave of missile and drone attacks wounded 13 civilians in the kingdom.
The Saudi-led coalition said the Houthis targeted civilian areas in Khamis Mushait, Abha and Taif on Monday. The attacks caused minor to moderate injuries to 13 people. They also damaged seven homes and two vehicles.
The latest strikes mark another sharp escalation in Yemen’s renewed conflict. They also come as the wider Middle East war continues to disrupt major shipping routes and energy supplies.
Saudi Arabia vows a firm response
Coalition spokesman Major General Turki Al-Malki said Saudi forces would take the necessary steps to deter further Houthi attacks.
He said the coalition would act firmly to protect Saudi sovereignty, civilians and civilian infrastructure. The statement also cited Saudi Arabia’s right to self-defence under international law.
The Houthis, meanwhile, claimed they launched a large attack against the King Khalid Air Base in Khamis Mushait.
The group said it used ballistic missiles and drones. A resident in Khamis Mushait told AFP that he heard intense explosions and saw fires that continued for some time.
Saudi Civil Defence also issued emergency alerts across several areas early Tuesday. Authorities later lifted the warnings after determining that the immediate danger had passed.
Houthis threaten further attacks
The Houthis have rejected Saudi accusations and vowed to continue their campaign.
Houthi political bureau member Hazem al-Assad said the group would keep responding as long as Saudi Arabia continued what the Houthis describe as aggression against Yemen.
The renewed confrontation follows a major deterioration in Yemen since July.
Saudi-backed government forces and Houthi fighters have returned to open fighting after years of relative calm. The escalation has also spread beyond Yemen’s borders.
The Houthis have increased attacks on Saudi targets and have threatened maritime traffic in the Red Sea.
Red Sea routes face new pressure
The latest fighting also has implications far beyond Yemen.
The Houthis have expanded their control along parts of Yemen’s Red Sea coast and around the Bab al-Mandab Strait, one of the world’s important maritime chokepoints.
The development comes as the wider conflict has already disrupted shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.
That combination has raised fresh concerns about global energy supplies. Saudi Arabia has also faced attacks on oil infrastructure, adding pressure to an already unsettled oil market.
Oil prices have risen sharply as traders assess the risk of further supply disruptions.
Yemen conflict enters a dangerous phase
The latest fighting represents one of the most serious escalations in Yemen since the country’s long-running civil war entered a period of relative calm.
The Houthis seized Yemen’s capital, Sanaa, in 2014. Saudi Arabia then led a military coalition that intervened in 2015 to support the internationally recognised government.
The conflict produced one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises.
Now, renewed fighting is once again forcing civilians from their homes. The UN migration agency said tens of thousands of people have fled since the latest escalation began.
Yemeni government forces have also reported recent gains against the Houthis in parts of the country. At the same time, Saudi Arabia has increased its military response.
Wider Middle East tensions deepen
The escalation comes as the United States and Iran remain locked in a wider regional conflict.
US President Donald Trump has said he is open to talks with Tehran. However, Iran’s leadership has rejected negotiations unless its conditions are met.
Meanwhile, diplomatic efforts involving Gulf states and Iran over the future of the Strait of Hormuz have also faced delays.
That leaves Saudi Arabia confronting several pressures at once.
The kingdom must protect its territory, defend vital energy infrastructure and secure shipping routes while avoiding an even wider regional conflict.
For now, Riyadh has made its position clear: further Houthi attacks will bring a firm response.
