Houthi attacks on Saudi cities injure 13, damage homes

Thirteen civilians were injured in Houthi ballistic missile and drone attacks on three Saudi cities, while seven homes and two vehicles were damaged, the Saudi-led coalition said early Tuesday.

The strikes mark another escalation in cross-border hostilities between Saudi Arabia and Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthi group.

Coalition spokesman Major General Turki Al-Malki said the Houthis carried out what he described as “sinful ballistic missile and drone attacks” on civilian areas in Khamis Mushait, Abha and Taif on Monday.

The attacks left 13 civilians with minor to moderate injuries, while seven residential homes and two vehicles were damaged, according to the Saudi-led coalition.

Al-Malki accused the Houthis of deliberately targeting civilians and civilian infrastructure, saying the repeated attacks demonstrated what he described as the group’s “terrorist approach and extremist ideology.”

He said the coalition would respond “responsibly and firmly” to protect Saudi Arabia’s sovereignty, civilians and civilian areas.

Saudi Arabia issues emergency alerts

The attacks were followed by emergency warnings from Saudi Arabia’s General Directorate of Civil Defense. Early Tuesday, the Civil Defense issued “potential danger” alerts in Jeddah, Yanbu, Taif, Abha, Jazan and AlUla.

The authority later announced that the danger had passed in the affected areas. It urged residents to continue following Civil Defense instructions, avoid gathering and filming, and call 911 in an emergency.

Saudi Civil Defense had also issued an emergency alert for the Khamis Mushait and Abha areas on Monday night, according to Saudi state television.

Yanbu, one of the cities included in the later alert, is Saudi Arabia’s main Red Sea oil port, where millions of barrels of oil are loaded each day.