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Houthis Strike Saudi Arabia Amid Escalating Yemen Conflict
· Confirmed
In Short: Houthi rebels in Yemen have launched a series of attacks on Saudi Arabia, including missile strikes on military bases and oil facilities.
Houthi rebels in Yemen have launched a series of attacks on Saudi Arabia, including missile strikes on military bases and oil facilities, according to Al Jazeera (Qatar) and Arabnews (Saudi Arabia). Al Jazeera reported that a Houthi missile attack on the al-AIam military camp in southern Yemen killed at least 53 people, while Arabnews noted that the Department of Foreign Affairs was coordinating with Saudi authorities to provide medical care and assistance.
Al Jazeera (Qatar) reported that the Houthis have stepped up attacks on Saudi Arabia, including on Riyadh’s international airport and the state oil company Aramco. Arabnews (Saudi Arabia) did not provide specific details on these attacks but confirmed the ongoing conflict.
Al Jazeera (Qatar) stated that the Houthis claimed responsibility for the attack on the al-AIam military camp, while Arabnews (Saudi Arabia) did not mention the Houthis' claim of responsibility. Both outlets agreed that the attack targeted a military base.
Al Jazeera (Qatar) reported that the civil war between the Saudi-backed government and Houthis had eased after a 2022 truce but was reignited by the regional impact of the US-Israel war on Iran. Arabnews (Saudi Arabia) did not provide context on the truce or the impact of the US-Israel war.
Al Jazeera (Qatar) quoted a Houthi spokesperson, Yahya Saree, saying that anywhere with a Saudi-backed military presence would be considered a legitimate target. Arabnews (Saudi Arabia) did not include this quote but confirmed the ongoing hostilities.
Al Jazeera (Qatar) reported that Saudi Arabia responded with a counteroffensive and launched the “Dawn of Yemen” operation to recapture Houthi-held territory, including the capital, Sanaa. Arabnews (Saudi Arabia) did not provide details on the counteroffensive but noted the ongoing military operations.
Al Jazeera (Qatar) stated that the Houthis have launched ballistic missiles at a camp in southern Yemen during a training exercise, according to a government forces spokesman. Arabnews (Saudi Arabia) did not provide this specific detail but confirmed the ongoing conflict.
Al Jazeera (Qatar) reported that Saudi Arabia has halted operations at several southern energy facilities after attacks triggered fires and caused injuries. Arabnews (Saudi Arabia) did not provide this specific detail but noted the impact on energy infrastructure.
Al Jazeera (Qatar) reported that the United Nations Security Council condemned the Houthis’ continuing attacks on Saudi Arabia, saying they had caused civilian casualties and damaged energy infrastructure. Arabnews (Saudi Arabia) did not provide this specific detail but confirmed the ongoing conflict.
Al Jazeera (Qatar) reported that the Trump administration now assesses that Houthi attacks pose a broad, escalating threat to Americans in the Middle East, prompting urgent warnings from the State Department. Arabnews (Saudi Arabia) did not provide this specific detail but noted the heightened concern.
Al Jazeera (Qatar) reported that the U.S. embassy in Saudi Arabia has been issuing near-daily alerts to Americans traveling in the country, advising them to be aware of potential attacks on airports and airspace closures. Arabnews (Saudi Arabia) did not provide this specific detail but noted the ongoing security concerns.
Both Al Jazeera (Qatar) and Arabnews (Saudi Arabia) agreed that the Houthis have intensified their attacks on Saudi Arabia, including on military bases and oil facilities, and that Saudi Arabia is responding with counteroffensives and defensive measures.
Background
Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi said Egypt would take any measures necessary to defend Saudi Arabia if requested, amid escalating Houthi attacks, reported Al Jazeera (Qatar) and Timesofisrael (Israel).
Saudi Arabia and its allies condemned Houthi rebels' attacks, with Saudi Arabia calling for international support to address the threat to regional stability.
What's confirmed
- The Houthis, meanwhile, have stepped up attacks on Saudi Arabia, including on Riyadh’s international airport and the state oil company Aramco.
What's still developing
- “Targeting recruits reflects the Houthi militia’s approach of resorting to terrorist attacks when under pressure,” he said.
- More than 10 years have passed since the conflict began in 2015, but the Houthis still control large parts of Yemen.
- Speaking at a graduation ceremony at the Egyptian Military Academy on Saturday, October 17, al-Sisi said Egypt was prepared to intervene if requested by Saudi Arabia, but stressed that any action would require parliamentary approval.
- That the Houthis are able to score hits from 500 miles away, despite the Saudi military spending tens of billions of dollars on multi-layered air defense systems, has puzzled experts.
- "We think the escalation by the Houthis at this later stage of the conflict is encouraged by Iran," Rayed Krimly, deputy minister for public diplomacy at the foreign ministry, told journalists on Friday, in a rare public statement.
- The US Embassy in Saudi Arabia on Monday urged American citizens to remain “vigilant” over the current security situation and the potential for drone or missile attacks, Anadolu reports.
- Samy Magdy, Associated Press Samy Magdy, Associated Press CAIRO (AP) — Egypt's top security body said Sunday it has agreed to support close ally Saudi Arabia in the major escalation of fighting between the kingdom and Iranian-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen, which has marked the latest front in the Iran war.
- Last month, as the Houthis intensified their attacks on Saudi territory and the kingdom’s Yemeni allies, the prince called Trump multiple times in September, urging him to launch US airstrikes against the Houthis, who are allied with Iran.
- New Delhi, Oct 14: A missile launched by Yemen’s Houthi movement struck a building belonging to Saudi Arabia’s state oil company Aramco in the eastern city of Dhahran overnight, escalating the confrontation between the Iran-backed group and the Saudi-led coalition, the BBC reported.
- President Donald Trump announced an immediate energy ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine, saying both countries have agreed to halt attacks on each other's energy infrastructure after weeks of escalating tensions over strikes on oil refineries and power plants.
- Saudi officials announced late Friday that the East-West pipeline was closed as a precautionary measure following strikes the previous day.
- Yemen’s Houthi rebels have said Saudi Arabia carried out 26 attacks against areas under the group’s control in the past 24 hours, as the two sides continue trading fire amid an escalating war in Yemen, according to the AFP news agency.
Sources
- ABC News - Breaking News, Latest News and Videoslink
- Al Jazeeralink
- Arabnewslink
- Bhaskarenglishlink
- Fox Newslink
- Greaterkashmirlink
- Los Angeles Timeslink
- Middleeasteyelink
- Middleeastmonitorlink
- NewsCordlink
- Pipeline-Journallink
- The Guardianlink
- Timesofisraellink
- Fxstreetlink
- Fox Newslink
- Independentlink
- WION — video link