Houthis have again targeted Saudi energy infrastructure raising concerns of renewed escalation in the Middle East (Image: Google)
Riyadh: Houthi missile and drone attacks have targeted Saudi cities and energy facilities. Tensions have risen across the Middle East as Saudi Arabia has vowed a strong response after Iran-backed Houthi militants in Yemen launched a series of missile and drone attacks that injured dozens of civilians and sparked fires at energy facilities.
The latest strikes have raised fears of a fresh escalation in the Middle East conflict, with Saudi officials accusing the Houthi group of targeting civilian areas and key economic locations.
Major General Turki Al-Maliki, spokesperson for the Saudi-led coalition forces, said at least 73 people, including women and children, were wounded in the attacks. "Houthi forces have targeted civilian and economic sites in western Saudi Arabia, including the cities of Abha, Khamis Mushait, Jazan, and Najran," said Maliki, describing the strikes as 'dangerous' and 'senseless'. According to Saudi authorities, the attacks caused fires at several energy-related sites in the southern region, temporarily disrupting operations.
The Saudi-led coalition, which has been fighting the Houthis during Yemen’s long-running civil war, said that it would take firm measures against the group’s continued attacks.
"The Kingdom affirms its legitimate right to take all necessary measures to defend its sovereignty," said Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Ministry in a statement shared on X. Officials said the country would not tolerate attacks on its territory and would protect its people and strategic infrastructure.
The latest attacks come amid growing concerns over security in the Red Sea, a crucial route for global energy shipments. The Houthis have previously targeted Saudi oil facilities, including sites linked to Saudi energy giant, Aramco. The group has also threatened Saudi shipping operations in the Red Sea as regional tensions continue to increase.
Saudi Arabia and the Houthis reached a temporary truce in 2022 after years of fighting, but tensions have continued over economic restrictions and control of parts of Yemen.
In recent weeks, fighting between Houthi forces and Saudi-backed groups has intensified, with the Houthis using ballistic missiles and drones in attacks, including strikes near the government-controlled port of Mocha.
The latest Houthi attacks indicate that the militant group may be seeking to widen the conflict despite increased Saudi military presence along the Yemen border. Houthi political bureau member, Nasr al-Din Amer claimed that the group’s response was much larger than what had been shown on social media, suggesting further escalation could follow. The developments add another layer of uncertainty to an already tense Middle East region, where fears of a wider conflict continue to grow.
