Houthis Strike Saudi Arabia Again: Dozens of Missiles and Drones Hit Khamis Mushait Air Base, 13 Civilians Injured

Yemen’s Houthis, aligned with Iran, have launched a new wave of attacks on Saudi Arabia, striking the military air base in Khamis Mushait, in the south of the country, with dozens of ballistic missiles and drones.

The group’s military spokesman said the attack targeted aircraft hangars, radar systems, runways and munition depots, in retaliation for Saudi airstrikes in Yemen. Saudi authorities issued emergency alerts in Khamis Mushait and three other southern cities, while the Saudi-led coalition in Yemen announced that 13 civilians were injured in the attacks.

The new wave comes after the Houthis’ rapid advance along Yemen’s western Red Sea coast, where they took the port of Mokha and Perim Island at the entrance to the Bab al-Mandeb strait. Officials of the internationally recognized Yemeni government say Saudi and Yemeni forces have stepped up airstrikes on Houthi targets, including the area around Mokha, but the group has retained effective control of almost the entire western coast of the country.

The renewed conflict in Yemen is another challenge for U.S. President Donald Trump. Three sources told Reuters that Washington has so far resisted Saudi requests for direct military intervention beyond intelligence support. Trump said over the weekend that he had spoken with the Saudi crown prince and that the Houthis had also contacted Washington, asking it to stay out of the conflict. Saudi state media reported that Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman met on Monday in Jeddah with the U.S. regional commander, Admiral Brad Cooper.

Oil markets were shaken again: prices rose more than 4% on Monday before settling about 1% higher. Traders warn that a prolonged closure of the Saudi east-west pipeline could cut up to 4% of global oil supply, as long as the Strait of Hormuz remains largely blocked.

On the diplomatic front, the Gulf states pushed back the planned meeting with Iran that Oman was to host on Monday for talks on reopening the Strait of Hormuz. Iran said the postponement was at Saudi Arabia’s request. Trump repeated on Monday his claim that Iran wants a deal, but Iran’s Supreme National Security Council secretary, Mohsen Rezaei, dismissed the signals as a distraction, writing: “No talks until Iran’s conditions are met.”

Source: Reuters — Reuters