Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthis have launched a new series of attacks targeting Saudi Arabia, while simultaneously consolidating their positions on Yemen's western coast along the Red Sea, according to Yemeni officials. The developments occur as urgent discussions unfold in Riyadh regarding responses to the Houthis' rapid territorial gains. Concurrently, Gulf Arab states have postponed planned talks with Iran, heightening concerns over potential escalation of the Middle East conflict and its impact on global oil supplies.
The Houthis claimed responsibility on Monday for firing dozens of missiles and drones at a military airbase in Khamis Mushait, southern Saudi Arabia. The group stated their targets included aircraft hangars, radar systems, runways, and ammunition depots, characterizing the strikes as retaliation for Saudi airstrikes in Yemen. Saudi authorities issued emergency alerts in the affected region and three other southern cities. The Saudi-led coalition in Yemen reported that 13 civilians were wounded in the Houthi attacks.
Recent Houthi advances, including the capture of Perim Island at the mouth of the Red Sea, have increased pressure on Saudi oil exports. This follows a separate aerial attack last Thursday that disrupted operations on Saudi Arabia's east-west pipeline. Riyadh has attributed this pipeline attack to Iranian-backed militias operating from Iraq. The 1,200-kilometer pipeline, constructed in the 1980s, was designed to bypass the Strait of Hormuz during the Iran-Iraq War. Traders have warned that a prolonged shutdown of the pipeline could significantly reduce global oil supply, potentially by as much as 4%, especially if the Strait of Hormuz were to face a blockade. The timeline for the pipeline's operational resumption remains unconfirmed by Saudi authorities.
In response to the Houthi offensive, Saudi and Yemeni air forces have intensified aerial bombardments targeting Houthi positions, including areas around the historic Red Sea port of Mocha. However, officials from Yemen's internationally recognized government indicate that the Houthis maintain effective control over nearly the entire western coastline along the Red Sea. One Yemeni official observed that the Houthis, facing significant pressure, are escalating their campaign of missile and drone attacks against Saudi targets.
The renewed conflict in Yemen presents an additional challenge for U.S. President Donald Trump. Sources indicate that Washington has thus far resisted Saudi requests for direct military intervention beyond intelligence support. President Trump stated over the weekend that he had spoken with the Saudi Crown Prince and also noted that the Houthis had contacted Washington, urging U.S. non-involvement. Saudi state media reported a meeting between Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and U.S. regional commander Admiral Brad Cooper in Jeddah on Monday. The Saudi-led coalition has been engaged in combat operations against the Houthis since 2015, though a recent ceasefire had led to a period of relative quiet. Fighting reignited earlier this month, with the Houthis pushing back forces aligned with the internationally recognized government.
Hopes for diplomatic resolution have diminished with the postponement of talks between Iran and Gulf states, which were scheduled to take place in Oman. The discussions aimed to address negotiations for reopening the Strait of Hormuz, a critical chokepoint for global oil transit. Oman announced the postponement, with Iran suggesting it was at Saudi Arabia's request. President Trump reiterated his assertion that Iran is eager to reach a swift agreement, though Iran's Supreme National Security Council secretary, Mohsen Rezaei, dismissed the statement as a distraction, stating on X that no talks would occur until Iran's conditions are met.
Adding to the regional volatility, conflicting reports have emerged regarding the damage sustained by an oil tanker. Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps claimed on Monday that the Panamanian-flagged oil tanker El Gaia was struck by sea mines in a prohibited zone south of the Strait of Hormuz. Conversely, the U.S. military's Central Command stated this report was false, asserting that the tanker was hit by an Iranian missile last month. The United Nations' International Maritime Organization reported that the El Gaia was damaged on Saturday, without specifying the cause, and that two seafarers remain missing. The owners of the vessel could not be immediately reached for verification. The Strait of Hormuz, through which a significant portion of the world's oil exports transit, has been largely inaccessible since the conflict began on February 28, with Iran having threatened vessels transiting the waterway without authorization.
