Houthis Launch Wave of Attacks on Saudi Arabia Amid Escalating Conflict
The Iran-backed Houthi militia in Yemen has claimed responsibility for attacks on Saudi Arabia, including in the capital city of Riyadh. The group's spokesperson stated that dozens of ballistic missiles and drones were fired at 'sensitive targets' in Riyadh and facilities belonging to Aramco in the port city of Yanbu.
The attacks reportedly caused several major fires and were allegedly in response to more than 700 Saudi airstrikes in Yemen. Eyewitnesses had previously reported a fire in a fuel tank at Riyadh International Airport, which temporarily disrupted air traffic.
The Houthi militia has also seized Yemen's west coast, gaining access to the Bab al-Mandab Strait and potentially disrupting international shipping. The strait is crucial for Saudi Arabia's oil exports, particularly with the crisis in the Strait of Hormuz.