At least 73 people, including women and children, were wounded in Houthi attacks on the Saudi cities of Abha, Khamis Mushait, Jazan and Najran, according to Saudi authorities. The attacks also caused fires at energy and utility facilities in southern Saudi Arabia, prompting Riyadh to promise a firm response.
The Houthis said they targeted energy infrastructure operated by Aramco with drones and ballistic missiles. The group described the attacks as retaliation for recent Saudi strikes on Houthi-held areas in Yemen.
Fighting spreads across Yemen’s fronts
The escalation follows a renewed government offensive against Houthi-held positions. Yemen’s internationally recognised government said its forces carried out attacks in Hodeidah, Marib and al-Jawf, while government-aligned forces reported a ground push towards the al-Labanat mountains and advances in al-Bayda.
The Houthis said they repelled the advance towards al-Labanat and launched ballistic missiles at reinforcements in al-Jawf. The government also reported fighting in Taiz and further air attacks west of the city. The battlefield claims from both sides could not be independently verified. For additional context, see “Government warplanes strike Houthi positions in Yemen fighting”.
Why Bab al-Mandeb is central to the escalation
The fighting is concentrated around a broader contest for access to Yemen’s western coast and the Bab al-Mandeb Strait, the waterway linking the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden. The Houthis declared a blockade against Saudi shipping in July and have moved towards government-held areas near al-Makha and territory bordering the strait.
Saudi seaborne crude exports through Bab al-Mandeb were eight times higher between March and mid-July than during the same period in 2025, according to the supplied reporting. The route has become more important to Saudi Arabia amid restrictions affecting the Strait of Hormuz. A related part of this story is covered in “Civilians killed as fighting intensifies across western Yemen”.
Humanitarian toll and uncertain outcome
The WHO said at least 728 people had been killed or wounded in Yemen since August 23, with most casualties in Taiz and along the western coast. It estimated that about 21,000 people, or roughly 3,000 families, had been displaced from Taiz since Thursday.
The International Crisis Group described the situation as fluid. Its analyst Ahmed Nagi said the government appeared stronger on some fronts but cautioned that this did not mean the Houthis were weak. Analysts cited in the reporting said a negotiated settlement remained more likely in the long term than a winner-takes-all outcome. The development of this issue can be followed in “What the latest US-Iran tanker attacks mean for the Strait of Hormuz”.
What happens next
Saudi authorities have vowed a firm response to the attacks, while Yemen’s government says its counteroffensive will continue until state institutions and authority are restored across the country. The immediate outcome of the fighting remains unclear.
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