Houthis Claim Missile Attack on Saudi Arabia’s Jizan Province
The Iranian‑backed Houthi movement announced on Telegram on Saturday that a Yemeni missile strike had set fires in Jizan, Saudi Arabia, following Riyadh’s air strikes on Houthi targets in Hodeida and Kamaran Island on Friday.
The Attacks: Saudi authorities pushed emergency alerts for the southwestern province as the Houthis’ Ansarollah media said the missile “caused fires in Jizan.” The claim follows a Friday surge of Saudi airstrikes that hit wharf facilities and infrastructure linked to the Houthis.
Regional Fallout: The United States, after 13 consecutive nights of strikes on Iranian targets, did not announce new attacks on Saturday, while Iran launched drone strikes against U.S. military sites across the Middle East. Meanwhile, U.S. forces disabled a tanker attempting to breach the Gulf of Oman blockade.
Economic Impact: The heightened risk to shipping in the Red Sea pushed Brent crude above $100 a barrel, the highest level since May. Prices dipped later that week when two Chinese‑chartered supertanker cleared the Bab el‑Mandeb Strait.
Diplomatic Developments: An Omani delegation has flown into Tehran for talks to reduce tensions over the Strait of Hormuz, while the U.S. and UK plan a London conference next week on the strait’s security.
Next Steps: The Houthis condemned the Saudi airstrikes as “a dangerous escalation,” pledging retaliation. Saudi officials have not yet responded. The conflict remains a focal point in the broader Iran‑U.S. standoff.
