Houthis Bomb 3 Saudi Cities for Second Day — SkimNews
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- Houthis attacked Abha, Khamis Mushait, and Jazan with ballistic missiles and drones on Wednesday, per coalition spokesperson Turki al-Malki, marking the second straight day of strikes on Saudi national assets.
- Tuesday's strikes wounded 73 people and set oil installations ablaze, with Houthi-run Al Masirah TV reporting at least 32 killed in retaliatory Saudi strikes on Yemen's Al Jawf over the past two days.
- King Khalid Airbase in Khamis Mushait was hit alongside nearby oil infrastructure, with satellite imagery from Planet Labs showing damage at the Saudi airbase — described as one of the biggest attacks since the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran began in February.
- Saudi Civil Defense lifted alerts in Khamis Mushait and Abha on Wednesday, while al-Malki said the coalition would respond "responsibly" to protect sovereignty and civilians.
- The conflict has escalated sharply since the Houthis declared a Red Sea naval blockade against Saudi Arabia in July, prompting Saudi-led coalition strikes on Houthi military facilities in Yemen and a multi-pronged government offensive on Houthi-held territory.
- The 2022 UN-brokered truce that largely halted years of war now appears defunct, as Saudi Arabia calls the strikes a "dangerous escalation" and the Houthis frame their attacks as retaliation for Saudi operations in Yemen.
Why it matters: The targeting of King Khalid Airbase and Saudi oil infrastructure represents the deepest Houthi penetration since the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran began in February, pulling the kingdom into a widening regional conflict. With the 2022 truce effectively dead, a Red Sea blockade in place, and ground offensives underway in Yemen, Saudi Arabia faces simultaneous pressure on its air, sea, and energy assets.
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