Houthi media reports Saudi strikes in northern Yemen

Houthi media reported on Sunday that Saudi Arabia had carried out two strikes on Saada, in northern Yemen, a stronghold for the pro-Iran group. The strikes come amid renewed fighting between the Houthis and Saudi-backed Yemeni government forces since the civil war reignited in July.

What happened in the Saudi strikes on Saada?

Saudi Arabia carried out two strikes on Saada, a Houthi stronghold in northern Yemen, according to the Houthi-run Almasirah TV channel. The channel also reported artillery fire in the border district of Monabbih in the same province, as Saudi Arabia's civil defense agency briefly issued and then lifted attack alerts for the cities of Abha and Khamis Mushait.

What attacks have the Houthis claimed on Saudi Arabia?

Earlier on Sunday, the Houthis said they used drones and missiles to attack a military base in southern Saudi Arabia. The strike on the Sharurah base targeted "weapons depots and command and control centers that are managing the aggression against our nation and people," Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree wrote on X.

Late on Saturday, Saudi Arabia's civil defense agency said two people were injured after a projectile fired by the Houthis fell in the Jizan region, which also lies along the Yemen border. The renewed fighting has displaced tens of thousands of people since July.

Why does the Houthi advance in Yemen matter for the region?

Following a week-long offensive, the Houthis captured Yemen's Red Sea coast on Friday, cementing their hold on the Bab al-Mandab Strait. The waterway has become a vital artery for Saudi Arabian oil exports while the Strait of Hormuz remains closed amid the US-Iran war.

The Houthis had seized the port city of Mocha a day earlier after heavy fighting. Their advance along the coast has deepened concerns over the security of regional shipping routes already strained by the wider conflict.