Houthi Drones Target Saudi Oil Sites and Southwestern Cities Leaving 73 Injured as Coalition Promises Response A barrage of Houthi drones and missiles struck energy installations and civilian areas across four southwestern Saudi cities, leaving 73 people injured. Saudi Aramco facilities suffered temporary operational halts due to fires, prompting the Saudi-led military coalition to pledge full deterrence measures. A major military escalation has shaken the Middle East after Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi movement unleashed a wide-ranging assault using dozens of drones and ballistic missiles against energy infrastructure and civilian targets inside Saudi Arabia. Saudi Arabian authorities confirmed that the strikes left at least 73 people injured across multiple locations, damaging vital energy facilities and triggering fires that forced a temporary suspension of operations at key industrial sites. Satellite imagery captured thick columns of black smoke rising above a Saudi Aramco bulk plant located in the city of Abha on Tuesday, highlighting the severity of the damage inflicted on the kingdom's core economic infrastructure. Direct Hits on Southwestern Saudi Cities and Energy Facilities According to official statements issued by Saudi Arabia's military and energy ministry, Tuesday's coordinated attack targeted four major urban centers in the southwestern region of the kingdom. The Houthi offensive hit economic installations and residential areas in the cities of Abha, Khamis Mushait, Jazan, and Najran. Energy ministry sources confirmed that several installations within the national energy sector sustained direct impacts, sparking blazes across multiple sites that required emergency shutdowns to contain operational risks. The reported casualties include civilians, women, children, and facility workers who sustained injuries during the widespread barrage. Saudi Military Coalition Vows Resolute Operations to Deter Houthi Escalation The Saudi-led military coalition, which has supported Yemen's internationally recognized government against the Houthis for more than a decade, issued a stern response following the strikes. Coalition spokesman Maj Gen Turki al-Maliki denounced the attacks as a dangerous escalation that underscores the hostile and irresponsible posture of the Houthi militia. Maliki stressed that the deliberate targeting of non-military economic installations and civilian population centers violates international standards. He announced that coalition forces would execute all necessary operational and military measures to neutralize threats and deter future attacks against Saudi territory. Houthi Retaliation Claims and Escalating Airstrikes on Yemeni Provinces In a statement claiming responsibility for the operation, Houthi military spokesman Yahya Sarea characterized the offensive as direct retaliation for recent Saudi coalition air strikes across Houthi-controlled regions in northwestern Yemen. Sarea asserted that Saudi warplanes had conducted more than 120 air strikes targeting the Yemeni provinces of Marib, al-Bayda, Hudaydah, Taiz, and Jawf over a 72-hour period, accusing coalition forces of committing grave violations. He cited a specific bombardment on Monday against a detention facility in the city of al-Hazm, which Houthis claim killed at least 11 people and left 20 inmates missing under collapsed rubble. Sarea stated that Houthis deployed dozens of precision ballistic missiles and drones in response, causing significant damage inside Saudi Arabia. Collapse of the Four-Year Ceasefire and History of Maritime Embargos The latest strikes mark a significant breakdown in a four-year informal ceasefire that had previously brought relative stability to the long-running Yemeni civil conflict. The fragile truce began unravelling in July after the Houthis declared a maritime embargo against Saudi Arabia, initiating drone and missile strikes directed at Saudi commercial airports, oil infrastructure, and international crude tankers navigating the Red Sea. Houthi leaders claimed their maritime embargo and targeted strikes were conducted in retaliation for Saudi Arabia's ongoing sea and air blockade of Houthi-administered territories, as well as an airstrike that hit Sanaa airport. Battle for Bab al-Mandab and Rising Threats to Global Energy Corridors Ground hostilities have simultaneously intensified along Yemen's southwestern coastline, where Houthi forces launched a major military offensive aimed at seizing control of the strategic Bab al-Mandab Strait. The narrow passage connects the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden, serving as a vital choke point for global commercial shipping and petroleum transport. Recent clashes near the coast have reportedly resulted in over 300 fatalities and displaced approximately 18,500 people. The security of the Red Sea shipping route has become increasingly crucial for Saudi Arabian oil exports amid the ongoing war involving the United States, Israel, and Iran, which has effectively restricted navigation through the Strait of Hormuz in the Persian Gulf. What this means for you The escalation of military attacks on Saudi Aramco infrastructure and Red Sea shipping channels threatens global crude oil market stability and international trade. • Global Oil Markets: Disruptions to Saudi crude oil facilities and Red Sea passage create upward pressure on international fuel and shipping costs. This directly affects fuel prices and supply chain overhead for consumers worldwide. • Middle East Regional Stability: The unraveling of long-standing ceasefires risks broader regional destabilization across vital trade corridors. International maritime transport will face heightened insurance premiums and potential rerouting around Africa. Why this happened The sudden surge in conflict stems from retaliatory military exchanges between Houthi forces and the Saudi-led military coalition following the collapse of a multi-year informal truce. • Retaliation for Recent Air Strikes: Houthi leaders launched missile and drone waves after claiming the Saudi coalition carried out more than 120 air strikes across five Yemeni provinces over three days, including a deadly strike on an al-Hazm prison. • Naval Blockade and Maritime Conflict: The breakdown of the four-year informal ceasefire began in July when Houthis enforced a maritime embargo against Saudi Arabia in response to air and sea blockades of Houthi-controlled territory. • Control of Strategic Choke Points: Recent heavy ground combat around the Bab al-Mandab Strait represents a strategic bid by Houthi forces to control key maritime passages linking the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden during wider regional hostilities. Questions & Answers 1. How many casualties were reported in the attacks on Saudi Arabia? Saudi Arabian authorities confirmed that 73 people were injured across four southwestern cities during the drone and missile strike barrage. 2. Which specific cities and installations were targeted? The strikes targeted economic and civilian sites across Abha, Khamis Mushait, Jazan, and Najran, causing fires at Saudi Aramco facilities in Abha. 3. What justification did the Houthi movement provide for the strikes? The Houthis claimed the strikes retaliated against more than 120 Saudi coalition air raids across five Yemeni provinces over three days, including a prison bombing in al-Hazm. 4. How has the Saudi-led coalition responded to the offensive? The Saudi-led coalition condemned the escalation as hostile and irresponsible, promising to implement all necessary military measures to deter further attacks. 5. Why is the combat around the Bab al-Mandab Strait significant? Houthi forces are attempting to secure control over the Bab al-Mandab Strait, a critical maritime choke point connecting the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden for global oil shipping. https://trendkia.com/en/middle-east/saudi-arabia-ke-tela-thikanon-aura-chara-shaharon-para-houthi-misaila-drona-hamale-73-ghayala-gathabndhana-sena-ne-di-sakhta-karra-29744 TrendKia — Har trend, sabse pehle.