Iran-backed group says attack sparked fires in southern Saudi Arabia, marking further escalation in cross-border exchanges.
Yemen’s Houthi movement has claimed responsibility for a missile attack on the southern Saudi city of Jizan, saying the strike caused fires in the area, according to a statement from the group’s Ansarollah media on Saturday.
The claim came hours after Saudi Arabia launched airstrikes on Houthi-linked targets in the Red Sea port city of Hodeidah and nearby areas. The Houthis had earlier vowed retaliation, accusing Riyadh of targeting military and telecommunications facilities.
Saudi-Houthi Tensions Escalate:
Saudi civil defence authorities briefly issued warnings to residents in Jizan and the Red Sea city of Yanbu early on Saturday, citing a potential threat, before lifting the alerts a short time later. There was no immediate official confirmation from Riyadh regarding damage or casualties from the reported missile strike.
Images circulating online, including those shared by regional media, showed burned-out tanker trucks and industrial equipment amid debris in what appeared to be an industrial or logistics area. The authenticity and exact location of the scenes could not be independently verified at the time of reporting.
The exchange marks a significant escalation in tensions between the Houthis and Saudi Arabia. While the two sides had largely observed a period of relative calm in recent years following earlier rounds of conflict, recent weeks have seen a sharp rise in hostilities linked to wider regional dynamics.
Red Sea Tensions Rise After Houthi Strike:
Houthi military spokespersons have framed their actions as defensive responses to Saudi airstrikes. Saudi officials, for their part, have described their operations as necessary measures against threats to the kingdom’s security and to shipping in the Red Sea.
Jizan, located near the Yemeni border along the Red Sea coast, has been targeted by Houthi missiles and drones on multiple occasions in previous years of the conflict. The city hosts industrial facilities and is close to key energy and transport infrastructure.
The latest developments come amid heightened regional instability. Analysts have warned that continued tit-for-tat strikes risk drawing Saudi Arabia more deeply into the broader Middle East conflict and could further disrupt commercial shipping and energy flows through the Red Sea.
Neither side has indicated whether further military action is planned. International calls for restraint have grown as the exchanges continue.