Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi rebels claimed a missile attack targeting southern Saudi Arabia on Saturday, July 25, 2026, marking a direct retaliation following strikes by Saudi forces.
The Houthis announced via their Ansarollah Telegram channel that a “Yemeni missile strike” had been launched toward the southern Saudi Red Sea city of Jizan, sparking fires in the area.
Ahead of the impact reports, Saudi Civil Defence issued emergency warnings to residents in Jizan and Yanbu. Greek-operated air defense systems deployed in Saudi Arabia intercepted two ballistic missiles aimed at oil refining infrastructure in Yanbu.
The retaliation followed Saudi-led coalition airstrikes on Friday against Houthi military targets in the strategic Yemeni port city of Hodeida and Sanaa International Airport.
​”This attack is part of a ‘siege for a siege’ strategy,” Houthi representatives declared, pointing to Saudi Arabia’s long-standing blockade on Yemen. ​The flare-up comes shortly after the Houthis declared a maritime blockade against Saudi Arabia and targeted two Saudi-flagged oil tankers— the Encelia and Layla—in the Red Sea earlier in the week.
​The strikes mark a dangerous new front in the broader Middle East conflict, threatening critical oil export routes through the Red Sea and the Bab el-Mandeb Strait.
Following the recent naval disruptions, U.S. President Donald Trump warned that continued attacks on commercial shipping would trigger major military punishment against both the Houthis and Tehran.
