Houthis Strike Saudi Arabia as Yemen Conflict Escalates and Displaces Thousands

Yemen's Houthi rebels claimed responsibility for Monday's attacks on Riyadh's international airport, an oil refinery, and other sites in Saudi Arabia. The strikes came as the Saudi-led coalition reported destroying Houthi targets along the Red Sea coast. Pakistan and Turkey have pledged to send troops to Saudi Arabia under a mutual defense pact, following weeks of Houthi attacks. The coalition launched over 1,000 strikes and began an offensive against the Houthi-controlled capital, Sanaa, while the Houthis declared a maritime blockade on Saudi ships.

The fighting in Yemen has intensified, displacing more than 184,000 people, according to the United Nations. The Houthis recently seized coastal areas, including the strategic Bab al-Mandeb Strait. The Saudi-led coalition said its naval forces hit Houthi military targets in Hodeida, destroying weapons depots and thwarting a planned attack in the southern Red Sea. Pro-government forces reportedly expelled the Houthis from several areas, including the port city of Mocha.

Loud explosions were heard in Riyadh on Monday evening, with a Houthi spokesman confirming attacks on King Khalid International Airport and an Aramco refinery. Yemen's government has set an ambitious goal of retaking all Houthi-held territory. Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, and Turkey held an emergency meeting to discuss military support under a joint defense agreement. The UN expressed deep concern over the escalating violence, condemning Houthi cross-border attacks on Saudi Arabia.

Houthi attacks have disrupted Saudi oil infrastructure, halting the East-West pipeline to the Red Sea. Saudi Aramco's CEO warned that global oil stockpiles are dangerously low due to the Middle East war, noting that the system is already under strain.