On the morning of Tuesday, September 8, 2026, a series of Houthi attacks targeted civilian and economic sites across the Saudi Arabian cities of Abha, Khamis Mushait, Jazan, and Najran. 73 civilians injured in the strikes. Fires at energy facilities forced temporary suspension of operations.
- Attacks targeted Abha, Khamis Mushait, Jazan, and Najran
- 73 civilians including women and children sustained injuries
- Fires reported at energy facilities in the southern region
- Indian Embassy issues safety guidance for expats
Major General Turki Al-Malki, spokesperson for the Saudi-led coalition, confirmed that
73 civilians, including women and children, sustained injuries in the strikes. The Saudi Ministry of Energy reported
fires at several energy facilities in the southern region, forcing the temporary suspension of some operations. While the 400,000-barrel-per-day refinery in Jazan is located in this corridor, the Ministry has not yet officially named the specific facilities damaged. Houthi military spokesman Brigadier General Yahya Saree claimed responsibility for the attacks, stating the group deployed
ballistic missiles and drones to target oil and economic facilities, including Aramco-related sites in Jazan, Najran, and Abha, as well as the King Khalid Air Base in Khamis Mushait. The Saudi Foreign Ministry condemned the escalation, affirming the Kingdom's right to protect its sovereignty and residents. Solidarity with Saudi Arabia was expressed by Qatar, Bahrain, Egypt, and the GCC leadership.
For the large Indian expatriate population employed in construction, healthcare, retail, transport, hospitality, and industrial sectors within these cities, the
Indian Embassy in Riyadh and the Consulate General in Jeddah have provided safety guidance. Officials advise residents to
adhere strictly to local alerts, avoid gathering at incident sites, and remain in shelter-in-place locations if instructed by employers. Residents are cautioned against handling unexploded debris and are urged to monitor official channels for travel or airport status, noting that the Saudi National Center for Meteorology has also issued alerts for rain and reduced visibility in the Najran region. Official emergency contacts for Indians include the Indian Embassy in Riyadh (00-966-11-4884697, WhatsApp 00-966-542126748, toll-free 800 247 1234, email
[email protected]) and the Consulate General in Jeddah (WhatsApp +966 536209704, landlines 00-966-12-6648660/00-966-12-2614093, mobile +966 556122301, toll-free 800 244 0003, emails
[email protected]/
[email protected]). Saudi emergency services can be reached via
999 for Police, 998 for Fire, 997 for Ambulance, and 993 for Traffic Police.
