Saudi warplanes conducted airstrikes in Yemen while Houthi fighters launched drones and missiles at Saudi cities, according to statements by the Iran-backed group on Wednesday. This escalation has expanded Tehran’s influence in the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.
The United States heightened its travel advisory for Saudi Arabia, prohibiting government employees from traveling within a 32-kilometer radius of the Yemen border, reflecting the deteriorating situation.
The Houthis, who have made significant territorial gains in Yemen recently, shared video footage showing their fighters seizing armored vehicles from Saudi-backed forces. The video also depicted warplanes flying overhead and massive explosions in the desert.
Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Saree reported new drone and missile strikes on the major Saudi Red Sea oil port of Yanbu and a southern Saudi airbase at Khamis Mushait. However, the exact timing of these attacks was not disclosed.
Saudi Arabia had issued alerts for several locations on Tuesday, including Yanbu and Khamis Mushait, but no new alerts were announced on Wednesday. Requests for comments from Saudi officials and oil company Aramco remained unanswered.
Earlier, Saree claimed that the Houthis had downed a Saudi F-15 fighter jet, although no concrete evidence was presented to support this assertion.
The conflict has seen a surge in hostilities, with the Houthis launching attacks into Saudi Arabia, prompting concerns and disrupting oil supplies. The situation escalated further when an attack in Iraq, attributed to Iran-aligned fighters, damaged Saudi Arabia’s East-West pipeline, a crucial route for oil exports.
While Riyadh reported intercepting a Houthi drone near Mecca, which it deemed a threat to the city’s sacred sites, Houthi spokesperson Saree refuted these claims, dismissing them as propaganda.
Amidst the rising tensions, U.S. officials reportedly engaged in discussions with the Houthis in Oman, where the group reiterated its commitment to a ceasefire agreement with the U.S. reached last year.
The conflict in Yemen has added to concerns about global energy supply shortages, exacerbated by the U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran. This has led to disruptions in shipping through the vital Strait of Hormuz, impacting oil prices and fuel costs.
Traders warned that a prolonged closure of Saudi Arabia’s East-West pipeline could cut off a significant portion of global oil supply, heightening fears of a supply crunch. U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright indicated that oil flow through the pipeline should resume in the coming days.
Saudi Arabia, leading a coalition against the Houthis since 2015, has faced renewed hostilities after the recent escalation by the Houthis. The conflict reignited following the Houthis’ naval blockade declaration against Saudi Arabia and their attacks on the kingdom’s southern regions.
Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman of Saudi Arabia sought military support from U.S. President Donald Trump, who has provided limited intelligence assistance thus far. The U.S. had previously conducted airstrikes against the Houthis in 2025 but ceased after reaching a ceasefire agreement.
Trump now confronts a dilemma regarding further involvement, weighing the risks of exacerbating the global energy crisis by allowing the Houthi advance to continue unchecked or extending military support to the Saudis, potentially expanding U.S. intervention in the conflict.
