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Saudi Arabia Says 73 Wounded in Houthi Attacks on Energy Sites — AI-generated representative image: smoke rises from an energy facility in southern Saudi Arabia after reported attacks on civilian and energy sites.

Editorial Team

Houthi strikes hit civilian and energy facilities across southern Saudi Arabia as Yemen conflict escalates

Saudi Arabia has accused Yemen's Houthi rebels of attacking civilian and energy sites across the kingdom, wounding at least 73 civilians including women and children. The accusation came on Tuesday as fighting intensified in Yemen, where the Saudi-backed, internationally recognised government has launched a counteroffensive to retake territory from the Iran-backed group.

The reported strikes mark a significant escalation in a conflict that had largely paused after a 2022 truce, signalling renewed danger for civilians on both sides of the border. The attacks on energy infrastructure also carry wider economic implications for the region at a time of heightened instability in the Red Sea and Strait of Hormuz.

Reported Strikes and Official Response

Major-General Turki al-Maliki, spokesman for the Saudi-led coalition fighting in Yemen, said the attacks struck civilian and economic sites in the provinces of Abha, Khamis Mushait, Jizan and Najran. He did not specify when the attacks took place.

Al-Maliki described the attacks as a "dangerous escalation" and a "blatant violation" of Saudi Arabia's sovereignty, warning they posed a direct threat to the kingdom's citizens and residents. He said the coalition would take "all necessary operational measures" to confront the attacks and act against the sources of the threat.

The Saudi Ministry of Energy said in a separate statement that several energy sector facilities and installations in southern areas were hit early Tuesday. The assaults wounded a number of citizens and residents, sparked fires at several locations and forced a temporary halt in some operations.

Background of the Conflict

Yemen has been mired in conflict since the Houthis seized the capital Sanaa in 2014, prompting a Saudi-led military intervention the following year. Fighting between the two sides largely halted after a United Nations-brokered truce in 2022, but resumed following the war that the United States and Israel launched against Iran in February.

Hostilities restarted in July when the Houthis launched missiles and drones towards Saudi Arabia's Abha International Airport following an attack on Sanaa airport. Later that month, the group announced a naval blockade against Saudi Arabia and began attacking Saudi-linked shipping in the Red Sea.

On Thursday, the Houthis launched a major offensive, attempting to advance through western Taiz and southern Hodeidah towards the port city of al-Makha and the Bab al-Mandeb Strait. The fighting has since spread to the provinces of al-Dhalea, Marib, al-Jawf and al-Bayda as the government seeks to stretch Houthi forces.

Casualty Figures and Counter-Allegations

The Houthis made no immediate comment on the reported attacks on Saudi territory. Earlier, the group had accused Saudi Arabia of carrying out an air strike on a prison in al-Hazm in the northern al-Jawf governorate, killing at least seven people. The group said the "ongoing Saudi aggression against Yemen will not go unpunished." Riyadh has not commented on that allegation.

The World Health Organization reported that approximately 1,078 people have been killed or wounded since August 24, while more than 21,000 people have been displaced since Thursday.

What Lies Ahead

The Saudi-led coalition has pledged operational measures against the sources of the threat, though specific military actions have not been detailed. The Houthis have yet to publicly respond to Saudi Arabia's accusations, and Riyadh has not addressed the prison air strike allegation. Further confirmation on the timing of the attacks and the full extent of the damage remains awaited.