Saudis pound Yemen as Houthis solidify gains in new theatre of Middle East war By Reuters
Yemen's Saudi-backed government and a Saudi-led coalition launched a major military campaign on Sunday to recapture all areas controlled by the Iran-backed Houthi militant group. The offensive follows Houthi advances that reportedly cut a vital supply route to the besieged city of Taiz. In retaliation, the Houthis stated on Monday that they struck Riyadh's international airport, an oil refinery, and other sites in Saudi Arabia. The Saudi coalition also reported destroying Houthi targets along the Red Sea coast, escalating a regional war that threatens Saudi infrastructure and economic ambitions.
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- ✓ Yemen's Saudi-backed government announced a major military campaign on Sunday to recapture all areas controlled by the Iran-backed Houthis.
- ✓ The Saudi-led coalition stated it is bombing Houthi rebels in Yemen and destroyed targets on the Red Sea coast.
- ✓ Iran-backed Houthis stated on Monday that they struck Riyadh's international airport, an oil refinery, and other sites in Saudi Arabia.
- ✓ Pakistan and Turkey have pledged to deploy troops to Saudi Arabia under a new mutual defense pact.
What changed
The Saudi-led coalition and Yemen's government launched an ambitious military offensive to retake all Houthi territory after the militants severed a vital supply route to Taiz and struck targets in Riyadh.
Live updates
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Saudi Coalition Launches Yemen Campaign as Houthis Strike Riyadh
Yemen's Saudi-backed government and a Saudi-led coalition launched a major military campaign on Sunday to recapture all areas controlled by the Iran-backed Houthi militant group. The offensive follows Houthi advances that reportedly cut a vital supply route to the besieged city of Taiz. In retaliation, the Houthis stated on Monday that they struck Riyadh's international airport, an oil refinery, and other sites in Saudi Arabia. The Saudi coalition also reported destroying Houthi targets along the Red Sea coast, escalating a regional war that threatens Saudi infrastructure and economic ambitions.
Why it matters
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman previously sought to distance the kingdom from regional conflicts to focus on investment, tourism, and major sporting events. Persistent missile and drone attacks from Yemen have disrupted these plans, drawing Riyadh deeper into military escalation. To bolster its security, Saudi Arabia secured troop deployment pledges from Pakistan and Turkey under a new mutual defense pact.
What is confirmed
- Yemen's Saudi-backed government announced a major military campaign on Sunday to recapture all areas controlled by the Iran-backed Houthis.
- The Saudi-led coalition stated it is bombing Houthi rebels in Yemen and destroyed targets on the Red Sea coast.
- Iran-backed Houthis stated on Monday that they struck Riyadh's international airport, an oil refinery, and other sites in Saudi Arabia.
- Pakistan and Turkey have pledged to deploy troops to Saudi Arabia under a new mutual defense pact.
Still unconfirmed
- The Houthis reportedly cut a vital supply route to the besieged city of Taiz hours before the Yemeni government offensive was announced.
What to watch next
- Execution and battlefield progress of the Saudi-backed offensive to retake Houthi-held territory.
- Deployment timelines and operational scope for troops pledged by Pakistan and Turkey under the new mutual defense pact.
- Further Houthi missile and drone attacks targeting Saudi infrastructure, airports, and oil refineries.
confidence 100%Sources used for this update (7)
- www.cnn.com — Yemen’s Saudi-backed government announces major offensive against Iran-backed Houthis
- www.theguardian.com — Yemen’s Saudi-backed government launches military drive to ...
- www.defensenews.com — Yemeni government launches offensive to seize all areas from Iran-backed Houthis
- www.latimes.com — A Saudi-led coalition bombs Iran-backed Houthi rebels in ...
- www.al-monitor.com — Yemen, Saudi Arabia target Houthis in new campaign as war ...
- www.cnn.com — How a series of miscalculations restarted Saudi Arabia’s war in Yemen
- www.aljazeera.com — Yemen fighting expands as Houthis attack Saudi airport: What to know | Explainer News | Al Jazeera
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Saudi-Houthi Conflict Persists Amid Global Energy Volatility
Saudi Arabia continues military operations against Houthi forces following missile and drone attacks on Riyadh and Khamis Mushait. The conflict has disrupted regional energy markets, pushing oil prices to a one-week high after strikes hit Taif and the Yanbu area. While Riyadh held defense talks with military chiefs from Turkey and Pakistan, Western nations remain reluctant to engage directly. This instability coincides with separate geopolitical tensions in Ukraine, where President Volodymyr Zelensky has vowed to target Russian refineries despite US warnings regarding global diesel shortages.
Why it matters
The Houthi campaign targets critical Saudi infrastructure to exert leverage in the Middle East war. Riyadh relies on a limited set of international partners to counter Iranian-backed forces. Simultaneous oil infrastructure threats in Eastern Europe increase the risk of global fuel price volatility.
Still unconfirmed
- Vladimir Putin proposed a mega oil deal involving the sale of Lukoil international assets worth approximately 20 billion dollars to Donald Trump's envoys.
What to watch next
- Outcome of the Saudi defense talks with Turkey and Pakistan
- Ukrainian military strikes on Russian refineries
- US-Russia negotiations regarding Lukoil assets
confidence 80%Sources used for this update (7)
- play.google.com — Instagram - Apps on Google Play
- www.meta.com — Instagram - Meta
- about.instagram.com — About Instagram: Features, Safety, Community & More
- www.youtube.com — Instagram - YouTube
- en.wikipedia.org — Instagram - Wikipedia
- apps.microsoft.com — Instagram - Free download and install on Windows | Microsoft...
- jen.jiji.com — Ukraine, the mega Lukoil deal emerges in US-Russia negotiations. But Zelensky now targets Moscow's refineries
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Saudi Coalition Intercepts Houthi Missiles as Regional Allies Meet
Saudi Arabia's military coalition intercepted incoming Houthi missiles and drones targeting Riyadh and Khamis Mushait. The aerial assaults arrive directly on the heels of high-level defense talks in the Saudi capital involving military chiefs from Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, and Turkey. Regional energy markets face immediate disruption from the ongoing campaign, driving oil prices to a one-week high after strikes hit the Yanbu area and Taif. Meanwhile, Western reluctance to engage directly leaves Riyadh with limited international partners willing to confront Iran or address the widening conflict.
Why it matters
The escalation marks a dangerous expansion of Middle Eastern hostilities as Houthi forces press their offensive from Yemen. Previous reporting confirms that France is deploying military personnel to safeguard the vital Yanbu oil terminal on the Red Sea. Analysts question how Riyadh can neutralize the cross-border threat given that the United States remains uninterested in intervening and European allies are hedging their involvement.
What is confirmed
- The Saudi coalition intercepted Houthi missiles and drones targeting Riyadh and Khamis Mushait.
- Military chiefs of Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, and Turkey met in the Saudi capital to review threats facing Saudi Arabia hours before the Houthi attack.
Still unconfirmed
- It remains unclear how Saudi Arabia can defuse the Houthi threat or which external allies will provide meaningful assistance.
What to watch next
- Outcome of the joint defense pact talks between Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Pakistan
- Deployment details of French military personnel to the Yanbu oil terminal
- Further Houthi projectile launches targeting major Saudi cities and energy infrastructure
confidence 90%Sources used for this update (3)
- www.jpost.com — Saudi coalition says it intercepts Houthi missiles, drones targeting Khamis Mushait, Riyadh
- www.aljazeera.com — Houthis | Today's latest from Al Jazeera
- www.dw.com — Is Yemen's Houthi militia winning against Saudi Arabia?
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Allies Rally as Saudi Arabia Intercepts Houthi Missiles
France is sending military personnel to protect the key Yanbu oil terminal while Saudi Arabia, Turkiye, and Pakistan prepare urgent high-level talks under a joint defense pact. The diplomatic and military mobilization follows a wave of Houthi missile and drone attacks targeting Taif and the Yanbu area on the Red Sea. Saudi authorities reported intercepting six ballistic missiles. The regional escalation has disrupted oil flows from the world's largest energy exporter and pushed oil prices to a one-week high.
Why it matters
The widening conflict stems from a broader Middle East war that began with United States and Israeli strikes on Iran in February. Iran-aligned Houthi forces have accelerated territorial gains along the Red Sea coast while simultaneously launching strikes on the United Nations-recognized government in Yemen and across the Saudi border. Tehran has sought to distance itself from the rapid advance of its Houthi allies.
What is confirmed
- France is sending military forces to protect the key Yanbu oil terminal.
- Saudi Arabia, Turkiye, and Pakistan will hold an urgent, high-level meeting under a joint defense pact.
- Saudi authorities confirmed the interception of six ballistic missiles fired by the Houthis.
- The Saudi-led coalition stated the missiles targeted Taif and the Yanbu area on the Red Sea.
Still unconfirmed
- Tehran sought to distance itself from the rapid advance of its Houthi allies.
What to watch next
- Outcomes and announcements from the upcoming joint defense pact talks between Saudi Arabia, Turkiye, and Pakistan.
- Further operational deployments of French military forces to the Yanbu oil terminal.
- The trajectory of oil prices and export flows following the disruption at Yanbu.
confidence 100%Sources used for this update (9)
- www.theguardian.com — Saudi Arabia intercepts wave of Houthi missiles as oil climbs to one-week high
- seekingalpha.com — Weekly Commentary: Too Big To Fail Redux
- www.aljazeera.com — Saudi Arabia allies line up support as Houthi attacks mount | Conflict News
- www.arabnews.com — Allies unite behind Saudi Arabia as Houthis step ... - Arab News
- www.straitstimes.com — Allies unite behind Saudi Arabia as Houthis step up attacks
- www.straitstimes.com — Saudi Arabia thwarts Houthi ballistic missiles, Yemen’s Saudi ...
- www.jpost.com — Allies unite behind Saudi Arabia as Houthis step up attacks ...
- www.thedailystar.net — Saudis pound Yemen, Houthis fire at Saudi, as Middle East war ...
- thearabianpost.com — Saudi jets strike Yemen as Houthis consolidate gains
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Houthi missile and drone strikes injure 13 in Saudi Arabia
Houthi forces launched missile and drone attacks on three Saudi cities, resulting in 13 injuries. Saudi civil defence has since declared that the danger has passed in six cities, including Yanbu. While Saudi forces continue to pound Yemen, the Houthis are consolidating gains in this theatre of the Middle East war. Pakistan has pledged practical and diplomatic support to Saudi Arabia should the conflict escalate further.
Why it matters
The ongoing war between Saudi-led forces and Houthi rebels has expanded into a broader Middle East conflict. This escalation tests regional security alliances and the stability of Saudi urban centers.
What is confirmed
- Houthi missile and drone attacks on three Saudi cities injured 13 people.
- Saudi civil defence announced the danger has passed in six cities, including Yanbu.
Still unconfirmed
- Houthi attacks may activate the Mecca Pact.
What to watch next
- Official Saudi military response to the recent drone and missile strikes
- Confirmation of whether the Mecca Pact is activated
- Further diplomatic commitments from Pakistan regarding the conflict
confidence 80%Sources used for this update (5)
- Al Jazeera — Will the Houthi attacks activate the Mecca Pact?
- Reuters — Saudi civil defence says danger has passed in six cities including Yanbu
- Anadolu Ajansı — 13 injured in Houthi missile and drone attacks on 3 Saudi cities
- Dawn — Pakistan to stand by Saudi Arabia 'practically and diplomatically' if Yemen conflict escalates: Asif
- Investing.com — Saudis pound Yemen as Houthis solidify gains in new theatre of Middle East war By Reuters
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