Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi movement has launched drone and missile attacks on energy facilities and civilian infrastructure in Saudi Arabia, injuring 73 people, Saudi authorities have stated. The attacks on Tuesday hit four south-western cities, leading to fires at oil facilities and installations, which caused a temporary halt in some operations.
The Saudi-led coalition in Yemen announced that its forces would respond to this "dangerous escalation." Major General Turki al-Maliki, spokesman for the Saudi-led coalition, said the attacks targeted civilian and economic sites in Abha, Khamis Mushait, Jazan, and Najran, with women and children among the injured.
The Houthi movement claimed the attacks were in retaliation for dozens of recent Saudi strikes on areas of north-western Yemen under their control. On Monday, the Houthis accused Saudi Arabia of bombing a prison in al-Hazm, reportedly killing at least 11 people and leaving 20 inmates missing.
This escalation follows the unravelling of an informal ceasefire in July, when the Houthis announced a "maritime embargo" against Saudi Arabia and began attacks on Saudi airports, oil facilities, and tankers in the Red Sea. Heavy fighting has also been reported on Yemen's south-western coast since Thursday, with the Houthis launching an offensive to control the Bab al-Mandab Strait.