Saudi Arabia announced the interception of six ballistic missiles launched by Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthis, marking the latest escalation in regional tensions. The missiles targeted areas including Taif in western Saudi Arabia and the Yanbu region on the Red Sea, though the Houthis claimed their strikes were aimed at sensitive facilities in Riyadh and Saudi Aramco installations. The attack prompted oil prices to rise approximately 3%, though trading remained volatile and prices retreated from session peaks following reports of discussions between the United States and Iran regarding reopening the Strait of Hormuz.
The recurring attacks pose significant challenges to Saudi Arabia’s ability to maintain oil exports through the Red Sea at a time when multiple export routes face disruptions. The Strait of Hormuz remains compromised, while the kingdom’s east-west pipeline is only recently resuming operations after experiencing drone strikes earlier in the month. The Houthis declared a naval blockade targeting the kingdom in July, establishing what analysts characterize as a second front in the broader US-Iran conflict.
The situation intensified following the Houthis’ recent territorial gains along Yemen’s western coast, bringing them to the Red Sea’s strategically important Bab el-Mandeb waterway. Yemen’s internationally recognized government appealed to world leaders for assistance in countering the militants, characterizing their control of a major global shipping route as an international economic threat. Officials from the recognized government called for international intervention to prevent further weapons transfers to the Houthis, warning that their control of navigation represents a form of economic coercion affecting global supply chains.
Meanwhile, fighting continued on secondary fronts, with Saudi-backed government forces repelling overnight Houthi attacks on supply routes to Taiz, Yemen’s third-largest city. Control of key mountain passes remains contested as both sides vie for territorial advantage. In response to the escalating situation, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Pakistan announced plans for an urgent meeting of military leadership to coordinate defensive measures under their joint defense agreement, with Pakistani officials reportedly expressing concern about deeper regional involvement.
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