Houthis Report Saudi Air Strikes in Yemen as Red Sea Conflict Escalates

The long-simmering conflict between Yemen's Houthi movement and Saudi Arabia escalated again in September 2026. The Houthis said on Wednesday that Saudi Arabian F-15 fighter jets, which took off from Khamis Mushait Air Base, had carried out a total of 40 air strikes over the preceding 24 hours. The strikes reportedly targeted the provinces of Taiz, Marib and Hodeidah. This account comes from Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree, who made the statement via social media.

The reported strikes come during a period in which the Houthis are said to have made substantial territorial gains along the Red Sea coast in western Yemen. These gains are seen by observers as a possible trigger for intensified Saudi air strikes, though official Saudi confirmation of the specific figure of 40 strikes was not found in the available reporting.

At the same time, the Houthis reported their own offensive actions. According to spokesman Yahya Saree, two Saudi F-15 jets were targeted with locally-made anti-aircraft missiles as they departed Khamis Mushait Air Base and were forced to retreat immediately. The Houthis also said they had carried out missile and drone strikes on an Aramco oil facility in the city of Yanbu, as well as further strikes on the Khamis Mushait air base.

Another point of contention concerns an alleged attack on the holy city of Mecca. Saudi Arabia said it had shot down a drone heading toward Mecca and described the incident as a "cowardly" attack on one of Islam's most important pilgrimage sites, sparking sharp international criticism. The Houthis swiftly rejected the Saudi account as a "lie" and denied targeting the city. Independent confirmation of this incident has not been established.

The conflict forms part of a broader regional power struggle. Saudi Arabia has for years led a coalition supporting Yemen's internationally recognized government, while the Houthis are widely described as aligned with Iran. According to the Coalition to Restore Legitimacy in Yemen, the Houthis recently targeted several Saudi cities, including Khamis Mushait, Abha and Taif, with ballistic missiles and drones. The coalition said these attacks injured 13 civilians and damaged several homes and vehicles. Just days earlier, attacks reportedly hit Abha, Khamis Mushait, Jazan and Najran, injuring 73 civilians according to coalition figures.

Observers also point to a shifting strategic position for Saudi Arabia. The kingdom had, for months, remained largely insulated from a wider war involving Iran, in part because state oil company Aramco recorded strong profits thanks to the East-West Pipeline, which allows crude exports to bypass the Strait of Hormuz. However, that pipeline has reportedly been disabled by a drone attack carried out by Iran-aligned militias in Iraq, weakening Riyadh's position.

Adding to this, reports from South Asian media indicate that the United States is currently withholding direct military support for Saudi Arabia following talks with the Houthis in Oman. Other former partners, including Turkey, are also said to have stepped back from an active role, leaving Saudi Arabia, according to several observers, with "few cards to play" should it consider returning to full-scale war with the Houthis.

Many of the figures cited regarding strikes, casualties and damage originate exclusively from the parties involved in the conflict—either the Houthi leadership or the Saudi-led coalition—and cannot currently be independently verified. It also remains unclear how international restraint, particularly from the United States, will affect the trajectory of the conflict. Observers warn of the risk of further escalation should the exchange of strikes continue without a diplomatic resolution.