Saudi Arabia has issued a strong warning of a firm response following a series of attacks by Yemen’s Houthi rebels, who launched ballistic missiles and drone strikes that injured 13 civilians in southern Saudi territory. The pro-Iranian Houthi group has escalated military operations in Yemen since July, targeting both Saudi infrastructure and government forces amidst the ongoing civil war.
The Houthis intensified their campaign by declaring a maritime blockade on Riyadh and initiating attacks on Saudi vessels in the Red Sea. Last week, the group captured control over Yemen’s Red Sea coast and the strategic Bab al-Mandab Strait, dealing a significant blow to the Saudi-backed Yemeni government. Control of the strait is particularly critical given increased tensions in the Gulf region, where the US and Iran remain locked in a broader conflict affecting shipping lanes such as the Strait of Hormuz.
On Monday, a Houthi strike in western Yemen reportedly killed eight soldiers from Yemen’s internationally recognized government, according to two military sources. Meanwhile, the Houthis announced a “large-scale” assault involving “dozens of ballistic missiles and drones” targeting King Khalid airbase in Khamis Mushait, located in southern Saudi Arabia.
The Saudi-led coalition confirmed that airbases in Khamis Mushait, Abha, and Taif had come under missile and drone attacks the previous day, with 13 people wounded. Riyadh responded with over 50 airstrikes against Houthi positions, continuing a pattern observed during the preceding days. The coalition pledged to take all necessary operational measures to protect the kingdom’s sovereignty and deter future hostilities, condemning the attacks as a hostile and extremist approach.
Hazem al-Assad, a member of the Houthi politburo, stated that Yemen’s response would persist and intensify as long as Saudi Arabia continues its military actions against the Yemeni population. Saudi civil defence issued air-raid alerts early Tuesday in six regions but later lifted them.
The renewed fighting occurs amid a prolonged stalemate in the wider regional conflict. On Monday, US President Donald Trump indicated a willingness to engage in talks with Iran, which supports the Houthis. Trump described Iran as a “failing nation” eager to reach a deal and said he would decide whether the United States would enter negotiations. In contrast, Iran’s top security official Mohsen Rezaei stated on social media that no negotiations would take place unless Iran’s conditions are first met.