Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi rebels launched missiles and drones at Saudi Arabian cities on Saturday, July 25, 2026, targeting Aramco oil facilities in Yanbu and Jizan. The attacks followed Saudi airstrikes on the strategic port city of Hodeida and represent a sharp escalation in regional tensions involving the U.S. and Iran.
The escalation began when the Houthis fired missiles and drones at Saudi Arabia in retaliation for coalition strikes on Hodeida. Brig. Gen. Yahya Saree, the Houthis’ military spokesman, confirmed in a prerecorded statement that the targets were facilities belonging to Aramco, the world’s largest oil company, located in the Red Sea cities of Yanbu and Jizan.
Saudi Arabia’s civil defense reported that alerts sounded multiple times early Saturday in both cities. While the Kingdom did not provide a detailed official comment, Saudi Civil Defence noted a potential danger
that was later lifted. Greek security sources, cited by CNBC, indicated that air defense systems operated by Greek military personnel intercepted two ballistic missiles targeting oil refineries in Yanbu.
Hodeida Strikes and Red Sea Embargoes
The Houthi offensive follows a series of provocations and retaliations in the Red Sea. Earlier this week, the rebels targeted two Saudi oil tankers. In response, the Saudi-led coalition struck the Yemeni port city of Hodeida late Friday. Anees al-Asbahi, a spokesman for the Houthi-run health ministry, reported that the strikes hit the city’s port and the state-run telecommunications corporation, injuring two people.
The Saudi-led coalition denied hitting the port itself, asserting that they targeted legitimate military targets
linked to threats against commercial shipping. Major General Turki Al-Malki, spokesperson for the coalition, described the Houthi targeting of commercial vessels as a reckless and cowardly act
.
On Monday, the Houthis declared a maritime embargo against Saudi Arabia, threatening to block oil exports through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait. This chokepoint is critical to global trade, with approximately 12% of world trade and a quarter of container traffic passing through the narrows.
U.S. Blockades and the Iranian Proxy Link
The volatility in Yemen is occurring alongside a direct confrontation between the U.S. and Iran over the Strait of Hormuz. For 13 consecutive nights, U.S. forces launched air strikes on Iran, though reports from the Iranian Health Ministry spokesperson, Hossein Kermanpour, indicated that Iran had a peaceful night on Saturday, marking a break in the daily strikes.
Tim Hawkins.
If they do this again, the U.S.
President Donald Trump, via Truth Social
Human Toll and Diplomatic Stalls
Diplomatic efforts appear fragmented. While Pakistan is reportedly seeking ways to restart stalled peace talks between the U.S. and Iran, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has called for diplomacy and dialogue
to resolve the Yemen conflict without further military confrontations
.
Pattern of Escalation: From Sanaa to Abha
That event saw U.N. The current targeting of Aramco facilities in Yanbu and Jizan suggests that the conflict has shifted from tactical airport strikes to a more direct assault on the Kingdom’s economic and energy infrastructure.
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