Houthi attack in southern Saudi Arabia wounds 13: Riyadh-led coalition

On September 15, 2026, Saudi Arabia warned it would respond "firmly" to attacks by Yemen’s Houthis after a series of missile and drone strikes wounded 13 civilians in the kingdom's south. The Iran-backed rebels have been fighting against Saudi-supported government forces since Yemen’s civil war reignited in July, including declaring a maritime blockade on Riyadh and targeting its ships in the Red Sea. Recently, the Houthis seized control over much of Yemen's Red Sea coast and the Bab al-Mandab Strait, critical routes as tensions escalate between the U.S. and Iran.

In response to these attacks, Saudi Arabia launched 54 air raids across Yemen’s western governorates in retaliation for Houthi missile strikes on Khamis Mushait and other southern cities. The conflict has further complicated regional stability, with Gulf Arab states postponing planned talks with Iran amid fears of escalating Middle East conflicts impacting global oil supplies.