Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi rebels launched missile and drone strikes targeting Saudi oil infrastructure in Yanbu and Jizan, following Saudi airstrikes in Hodeida and Sanaa.
Missile and Drone Strikes Hit Saudi Aramco Facilities
Yemen’s Houthi movement fired a wave of missiles and drones directly at Saudi Arabia, striking infrastructure linked to Saudi Aramco in the Red Sea coastal cities of Yanbu and Jizan, according to reports from the region. Saudi civil defense confirmed that warning alerts sounded multiple times across both cities early Saturday.
The offensive serves as a direct retaliation for Saudi airstrikes that hit Hodeida and Sanaa International Airport. Brig. Gen. Yahya Saree, the Houthis’ military spokesperson, issued a prerecorded statement announcing the retaliatory operations and framing the military action as an end to the de-escalation phase.
“This aggression will not go unanswered or unpunished.”
Brig. Gen. Yahya Saree, Houthi military spokesperson
The exchange breaks a truce that had largely held despite expiring.
Air Strikes and Airport Closures Across Yemen
The military spiral accelerated after Saudi-led coalition warplanes struck targets in Hodeida province, including the port and state-run telecommunications infrastructure, resulting in reported injuries. A spokesperson for the Houthi-run health ministry, Anees al-Asbahi, confirmed that the strikes injured two people.
Concurrently, Saudi airstrikes hit the runway at Sanaa International Airport. Gen. Taher al-Aqili, defense minister for Yemen’s internationally recognized government, stated on social media that the airport was targeted to block an Iranian aircraft from landing with a returning Houthi delegation that had attended the funeral of Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
“At this moment, we say that our patience has run out. Accordingly, we will respond appropriately to this treacherous and brutal act, and we will confront and deal with the hostile aircraft violating Yemeni airspace and sovereignty by all available means.”
Gen. Taher al-Aqili, Yemeni Government Defense Minister
The targeted delegation ultimately rerouted and landed at Hodeida Airport instead. Rashad al-Alimi, who leads Yemen’s Presidential Leadership Council, confirmed that Tehran had officially requested flight authorization for the Mahan Air transport.
Maritime Blockades and the Bab el-Mandeb Chokepoint
Beyond direct aerial exchanges, the conflict centers heavily on control of the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, a vital shipping lane connecting the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden where approximately 12% of global trade passes. On July 20, the Houthis declared a formal maritime blockade targeting Saudi shipping, vowing to maintain the restriction until the kingdom lifts its blockade on Yemen.
“Nothing short of ending the aggression and lifting the blockade; otherwise, it’s all illusion and mirage.”
Mahdi al-Mashat, head of the Houthi-led Supreme Political Council
In response to the mounting maritime threats, the Saudi Defense Ministry announced the formation of a 14-nation maritime defense alliance designed to secure navigation around the strategic strait, according to international reports. Concurrently, Yemeni sources cited by Timesofisrael indicate that Saudi forces have withdrawn from eastern Yemen, fueling widespread speculation that Riyadh is actively preparing for a major naval campaign and a potential ground offensive.
Cross-Border Coordination Through Iraq
Regional assessments by Saudi Arabia and its partners reveal that the Houthi movement has expanded its operational footprint beyond Yemen. Regional officials disclosed that Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthis attacked Saudi Arabia from Iraqi territory in coordination with local armed factions under the supervision of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.
“There is now direct training and coordination between members of the Axis of Resistance themselves, not just between them and Iran.”
Farea al-Muslimi, research fellow at Chatham House
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