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Houthis Strike Saudi Arabia, Escalating Middle East Conflict

10:12 PM ETConfirmed

World Desk

In Short: The conflict between Saudi Arabia and the Iran-backed Houthis escalated sharply over the weekend, with the Houthis launching missile attacks on Saudi Arabia that killed dozens and disrupted flights, according to BBC (United Kingdom) and Dawn (Pakistan).

BBC (United Kingdom) reported that Saudi authorities intercepted and destroyed a ballistic missile fired at Riyadh on Saturday, without confirming any further strikes or casualties. In contrast, Dawn (Pakistan) reported that at least 12 people were killed and more than 300 wounded in an attack on Riyadh’s international airport on Saturday, marking the deadliest attack in the kingdom in over a decade.

Timesofisrael (Israel) reported that Saudi Arabia is running low on interceptor missiles needed to fend off ongoing strikes from the Houthi group in Yemen, citing Saudi officials. Meanwhile, Thestar (Canada) reported that Saudi Arabia said three people were injured in the latest attacks on its airports since fighting with Yemen’s Houthi rebels reignited.

According to an unconfirmed report from AFP news agency, quoted by BBC (United Kingdom), fighting between the Houthis and Saudi-backed government forces claimed 48 lives on Saturday. However, the Houthis claimed that 31 of their fighters had been killed while government sources said their side had lost 17 soldiers.

The Saudi-led coalition supporting Yemen’s internationally recognized government said that the Houthi claim is “misleading,” according to Oilprice. The coalition also warned of a firm response to attacks on civilians and destroyed three missile launch platforms belonging to the Houthis.

Saudi Arabia’s civil aviation authority said air traffic at Riyadh airport had returned to normal, despite the attacks. However, the US Mission announced in a security alert that US government employees working in Saudi Arabia must obtain special authorization before using any airport in the Kingdom following recent aerial attacks.

The conflict has also prompted several airlines to cancel flights to Riyadh, days before the Saudi capital is due to host a major gathering of global oil industry chiefs.

In a statement posted online, Houthi military spokesman Yahya al-Sarea said a “large number of ballistic and cruise missiles and drones” had been used to attack “sensitive sites” in Riyadh and Aramco state oil and gas company facilities in Yanbu on the coast.

Despite the attacks, Saudi Arabia’s civil aviation authority said air traffic at Riyadh airport had returned to normal.

The escalation in fighting between Saudi Arabia and Iran-backed Houthis in Yemen continued Sunday as the rebels said the airport under their control in Sanaa had been struck again.

The conflict has the potential to escalate rapidly, with Iran-backed Houthis engaging in hostilities against Saudi Arabia, including civilian airports, according to the Saudi-led coalition.

The attacks on Saudi Arabia’s energy infrastructure, including the Jazan refinery, have disrupted shipments through the Strait of Hormuz, increasing the risk of simultaneous supply losses across key Middle East export routes.

The conflict has reignited tensions in the region, with the Houthis threatening to shut down Saudi airspace and targeting sensitive sites in Saudi Arabia.

What this adds

Background

What's confirmed

• The Houthis are locked in a civil war with Yemen's internationally recognised government, which is backed by Saudi Arabia.
• Gen. Yahya Saree said on Telegram that any Saudi attack on Sanaa would be met with a “firm and painful” response in Riyadh.
• Three people were killed in a Houthi attack on Riyadh airport on Thursday, Saudi authorities said on Friday, as the Yemen conflict intensified and the group stepped up missile strikes against Saudi Arabia.
• The strikes formed part of an expanding Saudi-led air campaign aimed at pushing back the Iran-aligned group, which has made territorial gains in Yemen, threatened international shipping and launched attacks on Saudi Arabia.
• The strikes also prompted several airlines to cancel flights to Riyadh, days before the Saudi capital is due to host a major gathering of global oil industry chiefs.
• Saudi airstrikes meanwhile targeted Houthi positions in Yemen’s capital, Sanaa, overnight, according to Houthi officials and affiliated media.
• A Saudi-led coalition supporting Yemen’s government said it had destroyed three missile launch platforms belonging to the Houthis and warned of a firm response to attacks on civilians.
• Despite the attacks, Saudi Arabia’s civil aviation authority said air traffic at Riyadh airport had returned to normal.
• The group has repeatedly launched ballistic missiles towards Saudi Arabia and threatened to shut the country’s airspace.
• The latest deaths add to casualties from Houthi attacks on Saudi airports earlier this week, which had already killed three people.

What's still developing

• Off On Stream on Roller coaster death Kimberly Guilfoyle Anthropic AI warning Selma Blair arrested Christa Pike Live Updates Live Updates Iran Kelly Clarkson Middle East conflict: Slideshow 1 of 484 A U.S.
• Air defences also stopped "hostile attempts to target civilians" in the cities of Bish, Taif, Farasan and Yanbu, an official spokesperson for the Saudi-led coalition said in a statement.
• Earlier, a column of black smoke was seen rising from fuel tanks near the Saudi capital's international airport, where flights were disrupted temporarily on Saturday.
• They have attacked targets inside Saudi Arabia on several occasions in recent months, and said this week that they were responsible for downing a Saudi fighter jet over Yemen.
• Srinagar, Sep 11: US President Donald Trump rejected a request from Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to order strikes against Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthis, Axios reported, citing two US officials.
• For this admin, it always seems to come back to one thing: what’s in it for them?” INTERNATIONAL NEWS (Climate crisis – “Nepal says big polluters must ‘wake up’ as it calls for climate compensation over flood disaster”; “ Brent crude nears $100 after strikes on Saudi energy sites amid renewed Mideast hostilities”; “Friedrich Merz is now on borrowed time.
• Houthi-run Al-Masirah television reported that the Saudi-led coalition had targeted the Yemen Petroleum Company’s Sabah central station, a fuel depot on the outskirts of Sanaa.

Sources

• ABC News - Breaking News, Latest News and Videoslink
• Ariselink
• BBClink
• Bluevirginialink
• Bozeman Daily Chroniclelink
• Deccan Chroniclelink
• Gulf Newslink
• Indianewsnetworklink
• Oilpricelink
• PBSlink
• The Christian Science Monitorlink
• The Transylvania Timeslink
• World Socialist Web Sitelink
• gCaptainlink
• https://globalpost.com/link
• Indiatvnewslink
• Democracy Now! — video link