Yemen: Yemen's Houthi group on Tuesday confirmed carrying out large-scale missile and drone attacks on Saudi Arabia and vowed to continue operations deep inside the kingdom amid a sharp escalation between the two sides.
According to Anadolu Agency, Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Saree stated that the group executed a 'large-scale' military operation utilizing dozens of ballistic missiles and drones. The attacks targeted Aramco facilities in Abha, Najran, and Jizan, as well as Khamis Mushait Air Base. Saree asserted that the strikes were 'precise and direct,' causing extensive damage to the targeted facilities.
The Houthi spokesperson declared the operation was a response to Saudi airstrikes in Yemen, alleging that Saudi Arabia had conducted 121 strikes over the past three days in Marib, Al-Bayda, Al-Hudaydah, Taiz, and Al-Jawf provinces. He also accused Saudi Arabia of striking the Central Prison in Al-Hazm, Al-Jawf, resulting in casualties among inmates and visitors, including women and children.
Saree emphasized, "We will continue our operations deep inside Saudi territory, target its military buildups, and consolidate the equation of 'blockade for blockade' until the aggression stops and the blockade on our dear country is lifted." The statement followed reports from earlier Tuesday that Houthi attacks on Abha, Khamis Mushait, Jizan, and Najran injured at least 73 civilians, including women and children.
The Saudi Energy Ministry reported fires at energy facilities in the kingdom's southern region, confirming that some operations at the targeted sites were temporarily halted. Saudi-led coalition spokesperson Maj. Gen. Turki al-Maliki described the attacks as a 'dangerous escalation' and affirmed that the coalition would implement all necessary operational measures to deter the Houthis and neutralize sources of threats.
This latest escalation occurs as Yemeni government forces have reported battlefield gains against the Houthis on several fronts, including in Al-Jawf, Al-Bayda, Taiz, and Al-Hudaydah. Yemen has been engulfed in conflict since the Houthis seized the capital Sanaa in 2014, prompting a Saudi-led coalition to intervene in March 2015 in support of the internationally recognized Yemeni government.