In a significant escalation of regional tensions, Iran-aligned Houthi fighters have launched a drone and missile attack on a military base in southern Saudi Arabia. This assault targeted the Sharurah military base, hitting weapons depots and command-and-control facilities, according to Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Saree. The Saudi authorities confirmed that a projectile landed near the Yemen border, injuring two individuals and causing damage to a mosque and several buildings, with air-raid sirens resonating through the area.
The attack follows a major Houthi offensive along Yemen’s Red Sea coast, where the group has taken control of strategically vital areas, including a key port city and territories near the Bab al-Mandab Strait, a critical passage for international shipping. This offensive has provoked counterattacks from Yemeni government forces in the southwestern regions of the country. Government officials have stated that their forces are currently regrouping and planning to reclaim the Red Sea coast after experiencing setbacks in the ongoing conflict.
The intensified fighting has resulted in the deaths of over 500 people and has displaced tens of thousands, with the United Nations reporting that nearly 86,000 individuals have fled their homes in Yemen, primarily since early September. The resurgence of violence is also impacting regional security and vital energy routes, notably the Bab al-Mandab Strait, which gains importance for Saudi oil exports as the Strait of Hormuz faces disruptions amidst the broader conflict involving Iran, Israel, and the United States.
Saudi Arabia continues to back Yemen’s internationally recognized government, while the Houthis maintain their alignment with Iran. The renewed hostilities are heightening concerns about potential further attacks on critical infrastructure and commercial shipping in the region, exacerbating the already volatile situation.