Key facts
- Yemeni government forces killed 12 Houthi fighters while thwarting an infiltration attempt in Marib.
- Explosions were heard in Riyadh following air raid alerts.
- The Houthis claimed responsibility for attacks on Riyadh and Saudi Aramco facilities in Yanbu.
- Saudi Arabia launched airstrikes in Houthi-controlled areas.
- The conflict has displaced over 112,000 people.
Explosions were heard in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, following air raid alerts, marking the first direct impact on the capital since July. The Saudi Directorate of Civil Defence issued alerts late on Friday night and Saturday morning as the conflict with the Iran-backed Houthis escalated. Journalists from Reuters and AFP reported hearing explosions, though authorities later stated the danger had passed.
Yemen's Human Rights Ministry accused the Houthi movement of attacking and looting Saudi-funded humanitarian and medical facilities, including clinics, food and medicine warehouses, and water and shelter projects. The ministry warned that thousands of civilians and displaced people could lose access to basic services.
Separately, the Houthis reported that Saudi Arabia had launched 26 airstrikes against areas under their control in the preceding 24 hours. The Houthis' military spokesman stated that a declared "maritime embargo" on Saudi vessels was in retaliation for Saudi blockades of ports and airports in Houthi-controlled Yemen. The group recently seized the strategic port city of Mokha and Perim Island, a gateway to a key shipping route.
The conflict in Yemen began in 2014 with the Houthi takeover of Sanaa and escalated in 2015 with the intervention of a Saudi-led coalition. The fighting has reportedly left more than 150,000 people dead and triggered a severe humanitarian crisis. The renewed fighting has displaced over 112,000 individuals, with nearly 3,000 seeking refuge in Djibouti.