Houthis claim missile strike on Saudi Arabia as regional conflict deepens

Houthi rebels claimed responsibility for a missile strike on the southern Saudi city of Jizan on Saturday, asserting a new dimension to the escalating regional conflict. The rebels vowed retaliation after Saudi-led coalition forces struck Houthi military targets in Yemen's Hodeida on Friday.

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Yemeni missile strike

The rebel group's Ansarollah media reported on Telegram that the missile strike caused fires in Jizan. Saudi Arabia had not immediately commented on the claim, though its civil defense agency issued and then lifted brief warnings for Jizan and Yanbu, a common practice when missiles or drones are fired at the kingdom.

This flare-up follows Saudi coalition claims of hitting Houthi sites and destroying targets threatening commercial vessels. The coalition stated these actions were in response to earlier attacks on Red Sea shipping. A Yemeni security source told AFP that Saudi targets included a naval base in Hodeida and a military camp on Kamaran island. The Houthis had previously claimed attacks on two Saudi ships, with Saudi Arabia confirming damage to one vessel in the Red Sea earlier in the week.

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dangerous escalation

The Houthis had warned ships to avoid Saudi vessels, declaring a maritime blockade on the kingdom. Red Sea access is crucial for Saudi Arabia's oil exports, especially with disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz.

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the vessel (NCC MASA), belonging to a Saudi company, was targeted while sailing in the Red Sea today … resulting in minor damage to the vessel’s hull