Yemen’s Houthi forces launched attacks using drones and ballistic missiles against sites in four southern Saudi cities early on September 8, according to statements from Saudi authorities and reporting by Reuters, The New York Times, and other outlets.

The Saudi-led coalition fighting in Yemen said the attacks targeted civilian and economic facilities in Abha, Khamis Mushait, Jazan, and Najran. Seventy-three people were injured, including women and children. Saudi Arabia’s energy ministry reported that several energy-sector facilities and installations were hit, causing fires at some locations and a temporary halt in some operations. Specialized teams were responding to the fires and assessing damage.

Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree said the group carried out a large-scale operation in response to recent Saudi strikes in Yemen. Saudi officials described the attacks as a dangerous escalation and stated that the kingdom would take all necessary measures to defend its sovereignty and respond.

No independently confirmed ground-level images of the immediate aftermath were widely available at the time of initial reports. The attacks marked one of the more significant Houthi strikes on Saudi territory in recent years amid ongoing regional tensions.

SOURCES
Reuters; Saudi-led coalition statements; Saudi energy ministry; The New York Times.