Houthis Launch Heaviest Attack on Saudi Targets in Years

Saudi Arabia has vowed to respond after Houthi rebels attacked oil facilities and other sites in Yemen, wounding dozens and sparking a rapid round of strikes and counter-strikes. The attacks, which caused 'temporary' shutdowns at oil sites, marked the heaviest assault on Saudi targets in years.

The Houthis fired dozens of ballistic missiles, hitting Abha International Airport, King Khalid air base, and facilities belonging to state oil giant Aramco in Abha and Jizan. Several energy sector facilities were targeted, causing fires at multiple locations and leading to a temporary halt in some operations.

Saudi officials had vowed to respond, with Prince Faisal bin Farhan saying the kingdom would defend itself and its interests, while maintaining that 'the door to diplomacy is still open.' The attacks come as the Houthis try to capture land at the mouth of the Red Sea, a strategic location for Saudi oil exports.

Oil prices jumped towards $100 a barrel on Tuesday in response to the heightened tensions. Analysts warn that the Houthi attacks create an 'extremely uncomfortable dilemma' for Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who must balance restraint with the need to defend Saudi interests.