Houthis attacked 4 Saudi cities (video)

Houthis struck 4 Saudi cities (video)

On September 8, the Iranian-backed Yemeni Houthis attacked four cities in the south of US-ally Saudi Arabia. As a result, more than 70 people were injured and fires broke out at oil facilities. According to Reuters, this represents a sharp expansion of the Middle East war that has been ongoing for six months.

The Houthis, who control the Yemeni capital and a number of regions, stated that they conducted a large-scale operation deep inside Saudi territory. They used drones and missiles. The attacks targeted a military airbase in Khamis Mushait, and facilities of the state oil company in Abha, Najran on the Yemeni border, and the Red Sea port city of Jazan. Jazan is a port city with a major oil refinery and power plant.

Saudi officials confirmed that fires broke out at the facilities and announced that women and children were among the 73 injured. Reports of such a high number of casualties indicate that this was one of the largest attacks on Saudi Arabia since the US and Israel launched a war against Iran in February.

The Houthis distributed images showing thick smoke and explosions. They said these were Saudi trucks hit on September 7 in another border area further east.

On the night of September 8, Houthi-controlled media reported that Saudi aircraft carried out four airstrikes on the Jubah district, located east of the Yemeni capital, Sana'a.

After a month of peace in August, fighting resumed in the Persian Gulf. Iran and the US traded fire. This drove global oil prices to levels not seen since July. Brent crude oil prices rose by more than 2 percent on September 8, exceeding $99 a barrel.

The Houthi attack on southwestern Saudi Arabia could disrupt Middle East energy supplies. This situation is likely to amplify the global economic impact of the war beyond the blockaded Strait of Hormuz.

Saudi Arabia has been leading an Arab coalition fighting the Houthis in Yemen for more than a decade. This war had quieted down in recent years. However, the truce was broken, and now the Houthis are threatening ships at the entrance to the Red Sea.

According to the International Organization for Migration, more than 18,500 people have fled their homes along Yemen's western coast over the last three days due to the ongoing war.

"The coalition will take all necessary operational measures to deter this terrorist group and will respond decisively to its hostile actions," said a statement on the X platform by Colonel Turki al-Malki, spokesperson for the Saudi-led coalition.

Houthi spokesperson Yahya Saree accused Riyadh of escalating the war by launching airstrikes on Yemen and said the Houthis would retaliate.