Yemen’s Houthi movement launched a wave of missile and drone strikes targeting southern Saudi Arabia and Red Sea shipping routes, injuring at least 73 people and igniting fires at several energy facilities, according to regional officials and military statements released on Tuesday and Wednesday.
Houthi Strikes Injure Dozens Across Saudi Cities
The early Tuesday attacks struck civilian and economic infrastructure in the Saudi cities of Abha, Jazan, Najran, and Khamis Mushait, according to Maj. Gen. Turki al-Malki, spokesperson for the Saudi-led coalition fighting in Yemen. Al-Malki stated that the wounded individuals include women and children, and reported that the strikes ignited fires at several oil facilities and utilities in the kingdom’s southern region.
The escalation follows weeks of intensifying clashes between Houthi fighters and Saudi-backed government forces in Yemen, which have effectively shattered a four-year truce in the country’s civil war. According to regional reporting, the renewed fighting raises fresh economic concerns and threatens international shipping through the Bab al-Mandeb strait.
Tanker Attacks Disrupt Red Sea Shipping
Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Saree announced on Wednesday that the group targeted two Saudi oil tankers, named the Encelia and the Layla, for violating a maritime blockade declared by the group on July 20. Saree claimed the strikes utilized ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, and drones, resulting in fires on the vessels.
The Saudi Press Agency confirmed that the Encelia sustained a hit, citing an official source at Saudi Arabia’s Transport General Authority who noted that all crew members remained safe. The Saudi Press Agency condemned the action as a violation of international laws guaranteeing the safety of commercial vessels. Additionally, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) centre reported receiving reports that a tanker had been struck by an unknown projectile, prompting onboard firefighting efforts by the crew.
Geopolitical Fallout and Diplomatic Friction
The maritime embargo was declared by the Houthis following an escalation sparked when the Yemeni government bombed Sanaa airport to prevent an Iranian plane from landing.
Concurrently, diplomatic tensions widened between the United Kingdom and Israel following a British announcement regarding West Bank trade. British Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband announced that the U.K. will ban imports of all goods from Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank, stating that settlement expansion endangers the establishment of a Palestinian state. In response, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar announced that Israel will close the British consulate in Jerusalem, expel U.K. representatives from a joint military center monitoring the Gaza ceasefire, and end U.K. training programs for the Palestinian Authority’s security forces.