Houthi attacks wound 73 people in Saudi Arabia, tensions in the Middle East escalate

At least 73 people were wounded after Iran-backed Houthi rebels launched a wave of rocket and drone attacks against several cities in Saudi Arabia.

The strikes hit civilian and economic areas in Abha, Khamis Mushait, Jazan and Najran, in the southwest of the country. According to reports, women and children are among the wounded.

The Saudi Ministry of Energy announced that the attacks caused fires in several points of the southern region, leading to the temporary suspension of some operations. Saudi officials have described the attacks as a serious escalation and warned of a strong response against the Houthis.

Major General Turki Al-Maliki, spokesman for the Saudi-led coalition, said coalition forces would respond decisively to the attacks. The Saudi Foreign Ministry, for its part, emphasized that the kingdom reserves the right to take ‘all necessary measures’ to protect its sovereignty.

This escalation comes after the ceasefire between Saudi Arabia and the Houthis, which had maintained relative calm for several years, has been shaken since July. The Houthis have intensified rocket and drone attacks on Saudi targets, including energy infrastructure and ships sailing in the Red Sea. The rebel group has also declared a blockade on Saudi ships in the Red Sea, a strategic corridor for Saudi Arabia’s oil exports.

In addition to air strikes, ground clashes between the Houthis and Saudi-backed forces in Yemen have intensified in recent weeks. The Houthis have used ballistic missiles and drones against the port of Mocha, which is controlled by government forces. After the 2022 ceasefire, the conflict between the parties had entered a calmer phase, but tensions have now returned with high intensity.

The attacks have been condemned by several Arab countries. Egypt called them a ‘dangerous escalation’, while Jordan described them as a blatant violation of Saudi Arabia’s sovereignty.

Meanwhile, a senior Houthi official, Nasr al-Din Amer, stated that the group would continue its counter-response and that it would be broader than the reports circulating on social media.

This escalation heightens fears that the conflict in Yemen could once again turn into a direct confrontation between the Houthis and Saudi Arabia, with wider consequences for security and energy supplies in the region.