The Saudi-led coalition in Yemen announced on Thursday that it intercepted six ballistic missiles fired by the Iran-backed Houthi militia, marking one of the largest cross-border missile attacks since renewed hostilities with Saudi Arabia erupted earlier this year. The missiles were reportedly aimed at the Saudi cities of Taif and Yanbu, according to Maj. Gen. Turki al-Malki, a spokesperson for the coalition. While the exact locations of where the missiles were intercepted were not detailed, the coalition emphasized its intent to respond firmly to what it described as escalating violations by the Houthi militia.
Saudi authorities issued alerts ahead of the missile strikes, warning of potential attacks in various cities, including Mecca, home to Islam’s holiest sites. The warnings were lifted later Thursday after officials declared that the threat had subsided.
The Houthis, through their spokesman Yahya Saree, claimed responsibility for launching dozens of ballistic missiles and drones targeting military locations in Saudi Arabia’s Jazan Province, near the Yemeni border. Saudi officials had not responded to this claim at the time of the announcement.
The targeting of Taif and Yanbu—cities located far from the border—highlights the expanding reach of the Houthi missile arsenal amid a resurgence of the conflict. The militia has accused Saudi Arabia of conducting hundreds of airstrikes inside Yemen since fighting reignited. The intensified missile barrage coincided with Saudi Arabia’s National Day celebrations, a period marked by public events and gatherings nationwide.
The conflict between the Houthis and the internationally recognized Yemeni government backed by Saudi Arabia has persisted for over a decade. The Houthis, a Shiite Muslim movement, view themselves as fighting to liberate Yemen from foreign influence. Following a 2022 truce, hostilities had largely decreased until recent months, when the war reignited amid heightened regional tensions linked to the U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran, further complicating the broader Middle East security landscape and affecting global economic stability.
Recent developments include the Houthis capturing the strategic port city of Mokha two weeks ago. This gain gave them control over Yemen’s west coast and the Bab al-Mandab Strait, a critical maritime chokepoint connecting the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden. Saudi Arabia has relied heavily on this corridor for oil exports, particularly after Iran imposed effective restrictions on the Strait of Hormuz during its conflict with the United States and Israel.
In related fighting, Saudi-backed Yemeni forces reported repelling a Houthi attempt to seize control of the Heijat Al-Abed Road, the last viable highway connecting the city of Taiz to southern government-held territories and the port city of Aden. Residents reported the road was blocked for several hours overnight amid clashes. Col. Majed al-Nuzaili, a spokesman for the Yemeni military, stated that several Houthi fighters were killed during the encounter.
Control of the Heijat Al-Abed Road remains critical. If captured by the Houthis, the blockade would severely isolate Taiz, which currently shelters approximately 60 percent of those displaced by the ongoing violence in western Yemen, according to Babar Baloch, a spokesperson for the United Nations refugee agency.