Saudi Arabia vows response after Houthi attacks wound 73 and hit energy facilities

ALBAWABA- Saudi Arabia has vowed to defend itself 'by all available means' after the Houthis launched a major wave of missile and drone attacks on southern Saudi Arabia, hitting civilian and energy-related facilities in four cities and injuring at least 73 people, according to Saudi authorities. Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan issued the warning during a visit to Moscow on Tuesday, saying the Kingdom would not hesitate to protect its security and interests while leaving the door open to diplomacy. Addressing the Houthis directly, he said the group had 'opened a door for themselves that they cannot bear.' Prince Faisal accused the Houthis of attempting to export Yemen's internal problems into Saudi Arabia and said the group resorts to violence when it comes under pressure rather than engaging seriously in a political process. He said Riyadh would continue to support measures serving the interests of Yemen and the region while reserving the right to respond to attacks. The Saudi warning followed a large-scale Houthi missile and drone assault on Abha, Khamis Mushait, Jizan and Najran. Saudi authorities said the attacks struck civilian and economic sites and wounded 73 people, including women and children. Fires were reported at several energy facilities, while operations at some installations were temporarily suspended. The Houthis claimed responsibility, describing the attacks as a broad military operation against Saudi targets, including facilities belonging to state oil giant Saudi Aramco and a military installation. Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree said the strikes were carried out in retaliation for Saudi military involvement in the renewed fighting inside Yemen. The latest attacks mark a sharp escalation in the Saudi-Houthi confrontation after years of relative calm following the 2022 truce. Fighting has intensified in recent weeks as Saudi-backed Yemeni government forces have launched a broad counteroffensive against Houthi positions across Al-Jawf, Marib, Al-Bayda, Taiz and Hodeida. Government forces have reported significant territorial gains, while the Houthis have sought to hold their positions and launch counterattacks. The Houthis have increasingly linked their attacks on Saudi territory to what they describe as Riyadh's direct participation in the renewed Yemeni offensive. They have also threatened Saudi economic infrastructure and announced measures aimed at restricting shipping connected to Saudi ports, raising concerns over the security of Red Sea trade and the strategic Bab al-Mandab Strait. The latest escalation comes against an already volatile regional backdrop. The United States and Israel are engaged in a major confrontation with Iran, while the Houthis—who are aligned with Tehran—have expanded their military activity. The renewed Yemen fighting therefore risks becoming intertwined with the wider regional conflict and further threatening energy supplies and maritime trade. Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan met with Dr. Alexander Radwan, Chairman of the Parliamentary Group for Arab Countries and a member of the German Parliament's Foreign Affairs Committee, during his official visit to Germany.https://t.co/TaNSrLvVZu — Saudi Gazette (@Saudi_Gazette) September 8, 2026 Reuters reported that the attacks on Saudi energy facilities pushed oil prices higher, with Brent crude approaching $100 a barrel amid growing fears of wider supply disruptions. Russia has urged both sides to avoid further escalation. Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, speaking alongside Prince Faisal in Moscow, condemned the Houthi attacks on Saudi civilian infrastructure as 'counterproductive' and said Moscow considered it unacceptable to try to resolve the conflict through military means. He warned that attacks on civilian facilities could have wider consequences for the global economy and called for renewed political dialogue among Yemen's factions. The confrontation is also creating a growing humanitarian cost inside Yemen. The World Health Organization said hundreds of people have been killed or wounded since the renewed fighting intensified in late August, while tens of thousands have been displaced, particularly from Taiz and western coastal areas.