Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthi militants launched dozens of missiles and drones against the King Khalid Air Base in Khamis Mushait, as well as civilian areas in Abha and Taif, over the past 24 hours. The attacks resulted in thirteen civilian injuries and caused damage to seven homes and two vehicles. Saudi civil defence issued alerts across six cities, including the Red Sea oil port of Yanbu, before declaring that the immediate threat had subsided.
The strikes are part of a broader conflict involving Houthi control over the Mokha port, Perim Island, and the Greater and Lesser Hanish islands near the Bab el-Mandeb strait. In response, Riyadh initiated more than 50 airstrikes on Yemen within 24 hours. Houthi officials reported three fatalities, including two children, in Taiz.
Diplomatic efforts failed on Monday as Oman postponed a scheduled meeting between Iran and Gulf states intended to address a temporary shipping corridor and Iranian toll proposals for the Strait of Hormuz. The talks collapsed after Saudi Arabia demanded amendments to reject Iran's claim that the strait is not an international waterway. Iranian spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei stated the delay was requested by Saudi Arabia and maintained that Houthi operations are independent of Iranian direction.
In Jeddah, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman met with CENTCOM chief Admiral Brad Cooper amid reports that Riyadh had sought direct U.S. strikes on Houthi positions, though Washington reportedly provided only intelligence and targeting assistance. Following these developments, Brent crude prices rose above $109 per barrel. The regional escalation now threatens major energy export corridors, impacting the security interests of Saudi Arabia, Abu Dhabi, Doha, Manama, and Muscat.
