Yemen's Houthi Missile Strike Foiled in Saudi Arabia as Tensions with Iran Escalate

A recent escalation in the conflict between Saudi Arabia and Yemen saw two ballistic missiles intercepted by air defense systems in Saudi Arabia, targeting oil refineries in Yanbu. The Greek military personnel-operated U.S.-made Patriot air defense battery was deployed in Saudi Arabia since 2021 to help protect the kingdom's energy infrastructure.

Saudi civil defence issued several warnings for Yanbu and later said the danger had passed. A warning was also issued for the port city of Jizan about 1,000 km south, close to the Yemeni border. There were no immediate official reports of damage.

The U.S. President Donald Trump vowed 'major military punishment' for Tehran and its Houthi allies in Yemen after the Houthis struck two Saudi tankers in the Red Sea on Thursday.