Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi movement has launched attacks on Saudi energy facilities and civilian infrastructure using dozens of drones and missiles, according to Saudi authorities; the attacks, which took place on Tuesday, injured 73 people and caused fires at oil installations in four south-western cities.

Saudi-Led Coalition Condemns ‘Dangerous Escalation’

The Saudi-led coalition in Yemen stated that its forces would respond to what it called a “dangerous escalation.” The coalition’s spokesman, Maj Gen Turki al-Maliki, said the Houthi attacks targeted civilian and economic sites in Abha, Khamis Mushait, Jazan, and Najran. He noted that women and children were among the injured.

According to the Saudi energy ministry, the attacks on “several energy sector facilities and installations” also caused injuries — an official source cited in a ministry statement said the attacks had led to a “temporary halt in some operations” due to the fires.

Houthi Claims of Retaliation and Saudi Bombing

The Houthis described the attacks as retaliation for recent Saudi strikes on areas of north-western Yemen under their control. On Monday, they accused Saudi Arabia of bombing a prison in the city of al-Hazm, killing at least 11 people and leaving 20 inmates missing under the rubble.

Houthi military spokesman Yahya Sarea claimed the Saudi-led coalition had carried out more than 120 air strikes on Yemeni provinces including Marib, al-Bayda, Hudaydah, Taiz, and Jawf over the past three days. He described these actions as “grave crimes” and stated the Houthis responded with “dozens of ballistic missiles and drones,” which he claimed caused “significant damage.”

A Saudi-led coalition of Arab states has supported Yemen’s government in the country’s civil war for over a decade. An informal ceasefire that lasted four years has been breaking down since July, when the Houthis announced a “maritime embargo” against Saudi Arabia and began launching attacks on Saudi airports, oil facilities, and tankers in the Red Sea.

Escalation in Fighting and Regional Tensions

The Houthis have said they are retaliating for a Saudi blockade of ports and airports in their territory and an air strike on Sanaa airport that they blame on the kingdom. Heavy fighting has been reported on Yemen’s south-western coast since Thursday, when the Houthis launched an offensive against pro-government forces in an attempt to control the Bab al-Mandab Strait, a key waterway connecting the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden.

According to reports, the fighting has left more than 300 people dead and displaced 18,500. The Red Sea has become increasingly important for Saudi oil shipments, especially during the ongoing conflict between the US, Israel, and Iran, which has effectively closed the Strait of Hormuz in the Gulf.