Saudi-Led Coalition Vows Retaliation After Houthi Strikes

The Iran-backed group has intensified its campaign, extending its reach beyond regional border skirmishes to threaten critical infrastructure. Since July, the Houthis have enforced a self-declared naval blockade, increasingly targeting commercial vessels navigating the Red Sea. Coalition spokesperson Colonel Turki al-Malki confirmed that the latest strikes specifically sought to compromise civilian landmarks and economic assets essential to the kingdom’s status as a primary oil exporter.

Cities including Abha, Khamis Mushait, Jazan, and Najran bore the brunt of the assault. Reports indicate that the Jazan oil facilities operated by Aramco may have been struck during the operation, though independent verification remains pending. The sustained nature of these attacks marks a volatile shift in the long-standing hostility between the Houthi movement and the Riyadh-led alliance.