Recent Houthi Actions and Regional Implications
Tensions between Houthi forces and Saudi Arabia have seen a marked increase, particularly following the onset of the US-Israel conflict with Iran. This escalation has manifested in a series of missile and drone attacks, primarily targeting locations within Yemen and southern Saudi Arabia.
On Friday, Houthi forces reportedly launched at least 12 new missile attacks against the Yemeni provinces of Hadramout and Marib. These followed earlier drone and ballistic missile strikes on Thursday, which targeted military sites belonging to the Saudi-led coalition and the Yemeni government. These earlier attacks resulted in the deaths of at least 30 soldiers. Concurrently, a senior Saudi official disclosed that a Houthi attack in southern Saudi Arabia on Thursday caused injuries to 11 civilians, including a young child.
Intelligence reports, as conveyed by a senior Saudi official to Reuters on Friday, suggest the possibility of further coordinated attacks by Houthis and Iraqi armed groups, potentially overseen by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). These anticipated targets include critical infrastructure such as energy facilities, ports, and airports. Such attacks, if realized, would represent a significant escalation in a conflict that has been reignited by recent geopolitical shifts.
Background of the Conflict
Yemen's civil war, which began in 2014 when the Houthis seized the capital, Sanaa, has led to hundreds of thousands of fatalities. A Saudi-led Arab coalition intervened in 2015 to dislodge the Houthis, though the group retains control over Sanaa and other regions despite a 2022 truce.
The current surge in hostilities is the deadliest in years. Yemeni government sources informed Al Jazeera that Thursday's attacks involved eight missiles launched from al-Jawf governorate, north of Marib, striking al-Thiniya and al-Abr in Hadramout and al-Rouk in Marib. These strikes hit government military camps, including those of the Homeland Shield Forces, the Emergency Forces, and the First Military Region in Hadramout. The Homeland Shield Forces, established in 2022 with Saudi backing, are responsible for guarding the Marib-Hadramout frontier and the Saudi border. The Emergency Forces, formed in late 2025 under Saudi-led coalition supervision, secure land borders and anti-Houthi fronts. High casualties on Thursday were attributed to troops being gathered for a morning training exercise.
Yemen’s State TV reported on Friday that government air defenses intercepted several Houthi drones over Marib. Al Jazeera's Yousef Mawry, reporting from Sanaa, stated that Houthis had launched at least 12 more missile attacks on Hadramout and Marib, both strongholds of the Yemeni government. Houthi officials indicated that these attacks would persist against what they term 'Saudi allies' or 'proxies' within Yemen, referring to the internationally recognized Yemeni government. The Houthis believe the government is collaborating with Saudi Arabia for a potential ground offensive against their positions.
Major-General Turki al-Maliki, spokesman for the Saudi-led military coalition, confirmed a Houthi attack on Saudi Arabia’s southern Najran province, injuring seven Saudis, one Yemeni, two Egyptians, and one Pakistani national, including a four-year-old child who sustained second-degree burns. Al-Maliki accused the Houthis of violating international humanitarian law by indiscriminately shelling civilian areas.
Reasons Behind the Escalation
The Houthis, who control Sanaa since 2014, have been in conflict with the internationally recognized, Saudi-backed government based in Aden. Tensions have intensified since the US-Israel conflict with Iran began in late February. A significant escalation occurred on July 13 when the Yemeni government attacked Sanaa airport to prevent an Iranian aircraft from landing, alleging it was used by Iran's IRGC to transport personnel, expertise, and military equipment to the Houthis.
In response, the Houthis launched missiles at Saudi Arabia, signaling an end to the 'de-escalation phase' of the war. On July 20, the Houthis imposed a maritime blockade on Saudi Arabia, disrupting oil shipments through the Red Sea and attacking Saudi Aramco facilities in Jizan and Yanbu. The Houthis justified these actions by accusing Saudi leaders of an 'unjust and oppressive siege' and 'plundering resources.' They have since targeted multiple Saudi-flagged vessels and oil facilities. Houthi spokesperson Yahya Saree claimed responsibility for targeting the Saudi oil tanker NCC Ghazal with ballistic missiles, forcing it to alter its course.
This escalation echoes Houthi actions in 2023 when they disrupted global shipping by attacking Israeli-linked vessels in the Bab al-Mandeb Strait in protest of the Gaza conflict. Concerns are mounting that the Houthis could fully blockade this vital strait, which connects the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden. In response, Saudi Arabia announced the formation of a new international alliance to protect Red Sea shipping, with 13 countries reportedly agreeing to join.
International Response and Saudi Preparedness
The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Secretary-General, Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi, strongly condemned the Houthi attacks on Najran, labeling them 'terrorist attacks' and 'heinous crimes' that violate international law. He affirmed the GCC's support for Saudi Arabia's measures to protect its security and citizens.
Ahmed Nagi, a senior analyst for Yemen at the International Crisis Group, identified two primary drivers for the current tensions: domestic and regional. Domestically, the political track has stalled after a four-year de facto truce, leading the Houthis to believe they could exert more pressure on Saudi Arabia. Regionally, the US-Iran tensions have influenced the timing of the Houthi escalation, with the group seemingly aiming to support Iran by increasing pressure on global shipping.
Saudi Arabia is actively preparing for potential further attacks. A senior Saudi official indicated that intelligence from Saudi, US, and other Middle Eastern nations warns of coordinated attacks by Houthis and Iraqi armed groups, supervised by Iran’s IRGC, on Saudi civilian sites. These threats are particularly alarming given Riyadh's ongoing diplomatic efforts for de-escalation. Saudi Arabia is deepening security partnerships, including a planned defense pact with Pakistan and Turkey, and maintains high-level cooperation with US Central Command, ready to respond to any aggression.
Iran's Role and Future Outlook
Iran has long cultivated an 'axis of resistance' comprising groups like Hezbollah, Hamas, and the Houthis, to oppose Israel and the United States. The Houthis formally joined Iran's efforts against Israel and the US by launching attacks on northern Israel and threatening to expand operations in the Red Sea. In mid-July, Iran reportedly urged the Houthis to be prepared to close the Red Sea oil route if the US were to target Iranian power infrastructure.
Despite the heightened tensions, Houthi and Iranian entities have not issued new direct threats against Saudi Arabia. Hadi al-Amiri, head of Iraq’s Badr Organization, part of the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF), has called on Iraqi resistance groups to defer retaliatory operations against Saudi Arabia. This follows joint Saudi-US strikes on PMF headquarters in Iraq in late July, which were in response to drone attacks on Saudi territory believed to originate from Iraq. Al-Amiri urged fighters to prioritize Iraq's interests by postponing any retaliatory actions.
