Yemen's Houthis Launch Attacks on Saudi Oil Sites Amid Rising Tensions

Yemen's Houthi movement, which is allied with Iran, announced they carried out a series of attacks on Saudi Arabian oil infrastructure and airports on Saturday. The Saudi-led coalition, which opposes the Houthis, reported intercepting two ballistic missiles amid escalating hostilities between the two sides.

The recent surge in violence also saw the Yemen government, supported by Saudi Arabia, report that the Houthis launched three ballistic missiles targeting coast guard installations in the southern port city of Aden. This development adds a new layer to the ongoing conflict, which has seen renewed fighting since the collapse of a United Nations-brokered truce in 2022.

Saudi officials have not directly confirmed the Houthis' claims but did report missile debris falling near one of the alleged oil targets. It remains uncertain whether any of the missiles successfully struck their intended targets or if all were intercepted.

According to Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Saree, their forces targeted several critical sites, including King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, an Aramco facility in Yanbu, the Rabigh oil refinery, crude oil pumping stations, and the East-West Pipeline. Saree also mentioned attacks on King Fahd International Airport in Dammam, an airport in Najran, and a military base in Khamis Mushait.

In response, the Saudi-led coalition stated it destroyed two ballistic missiles fired toward Yanbu and Taif. The Saudi Civil Defence reported that debris from these intercepted missiles fell in the Mecca and Medina regions. These areas are significant for hosting Islam's holiest sites, visited by millions of pilgrims annually. The missile fragments landed in Wadi al-Mughammas in Mecca and also in Jeddah, Taif, and Rabigh. It is unclear if the debris in Rabigh relates to the reported attack on the oil refinery there.

The Houthis later denied targeting Mecca or Medina, clarifying that their operations focus on Saudi oil facilities and military bases.

The fighting marks a sharp deterioration of the ceasefire established by the 2022 UN agreement, which had significantly reduced cross-border attacks between the Saudi-backed Yemeni government and the Houthi forces controlling the capital, Sanaa. This escalation is viewed in the context of the broader regional conflict involving Iran, as the Houthis are seen as Iranian proxies.

Yemen's Interior Ministry reported that two missiles struck a coast guard headquarters while a third hit a coast guard building in Aden's Tawahi district. Houthi spokesman Saree claimed their forces also targeted Saudi-backed military gatherings at Al-Nasr camp and a naval base in Aden, alleging that Saudi officers were coordinating military movements there. The Saudi-led coalition has yet to comment on these specific claims.

Earlier on Saturday, Saudi Arabia's Civil Defence issued brief alerts warning residents of potential missile threats in Taif, Yanbu, Mecca, and Jeddah. These alerts were lifted approximately ten minutes later, indicating the immediate danger had passed.

Earlier this month, the Houthis warned airlines against using Saudi airspace, with the exception of airspace over Mecca and Medina, coinciding with an increase in missile attacks on Saudi territory.

This latest wave of aggression highlights the fragile state of peace efforts in Yemen and the continuing regional tensions involving Saudi Arabia and Iran. The conflict's impact on key oil infrastructure raises concerns about energy security and stability in the Gulf region, which plays a crucial role in global oil markets.