The attack pushes Yemen’s conflict deeper into the global energy system.
RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA
Saudi Arabia has promised a firm response after Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthi movement launched one of its largest coordinated attacks on the kingdom in years. Missiles and drones targeted energy and economic facilities across the southern cities of Jizan, Abha and Najran, as well as the King Khalid Air Base near Khamis Mushait. Saudi authorities reported that 73 people were injured, including women and children.
The assault caused fires and forced temporary shutdowns at several energy installations. Among the sites targeted was Saudi Aramco infrastructure in Jizan, home to a refinery capable of processing approximately 400,000 barrels of crude oil per day. Authorities said emergency teams contained the fires, but the full extent of the damage and its effect on production remained under assessment.
Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree described the operation as retaliation for Saudi military actions in Yemen. The group has intensified missile, drone and maritime operations after renewed fighting ended the relative calm that had followed the 2022 truce. Its campaign increasingly connects the Yemen conflict with the wider confrontation involving Iran, Israel and the United States.
Saudi officials condemned the attacks as a dangerous escalation and said the kingdom would take the necessary measures to defend its territory and economic infrastructure. The Saudi-led coalition also indicated that it would act against the sources of the attacks. Riyadh now faces a difficult strategic calculation: a forceful military response could restore deterrence, but it could also widen a conflict that threatens Saudi cities, Red Sea shipping and critical energy assets.
Oil markets reacted immediately. Brent crude climbed to a six-week high near $98 per barrel, while US benchmark crude rose above $92. The increase reflects fears that repeated attacks could disrupt Saudi production at a time when Gulf exports and shipping routes are already under pressure. Saudi Arabia has redirected part of its energy trade toward the Red Sea as tensions have affected traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, making the security of Jizan and western export infrastructure increasingly important.
The Houthi offensive demonstrates how relatively inexpensive drones and missiles can impose strategic costs on one of the world’s most heavily defended energy producers. Even when physical damage is contained, each attack introduces uncertainty into supply chains, insurance markets and diplomatic calculations far beyond the battlefield.
Modern wars attack not only territory, but the systems that keep societies functioning.