Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi rebels announced on Thursday that they conducted two separate drone operations targeting Saudi Arabia. The strikes reportedly hit Najran Airport and a facility owned by the state oil giant Aramco, both located in the kingdom’s southern Najran region near the Yemeni border.
Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree confirmed the attacks in a statement released via Telegram, claiming the operations were successful in striking sensitive sites. As of now, Saudi authorities have not issued a confirmation or official comment regarding the reported incidents.
The escalation follows a warning issued earlier on Thursday by Iran’s Revolutionary Guards, who cautioned that Saudi Arabia would be “unable to contain” the Houthi movement as the group intensifies its military activities against the kingdom. Hostilities have surged since last month, when the Houthis welcomed an Iranian aircraft into the Yemeni capital of Sanaa, triggering a series of retaliatory actions.
Following these events, the rebels declared a maritime blockade against Saudi Arabia and initiated a campaign of strikes against the kingdom’s shipping vessels, airports, and energy infrastructure. The broader regional conflict has also seen the UAE take significant measures, including the detection of two missiles aimed at maritime navigation and the subsequent suspension of all trade and financial transactions with Iran.
Yemen has been mired in over a decade of civil conflict, and the situation deteriorated further in July when the Houthis abandoned a 2022 truce with the internationally recognized government. The conflict is now increasingly linked to wider regional instability.
Concerns are also mounting regarding the Bab al-Mandab Strait, a critical global shipping artery. A Yemeni minister recently informed AFP that the rebels are plotting to seize territory along the strait to threaten maritime traffic. This strategy is supported by reports from three Houthi military sources and a government spokesman, who indicated that rebel forces are planning a southward advance from their current positions.
The UAE has explicitly denied rumors regarding the provision of financial facilities to Iran and rejected claims concerning the cancellation of labor residencies, maintaining a firm stance as regional emergency systems remain on high alert. The report also notes that suspends trade with Iran, uAE detects 2 missiles targeting maritime navigation.
Source: Khaleej Times
