Houthis claim 129 Saudi strikes in 48 hours amid Bab al-Mandeb tensions

The Yemen‑based Houthi movement has charged that Saudi Arabia carried out 129 air strikes across the kingdom within a 48‑hour period, a campaign the rebels say is aimed at crippling Riyadh’s oil infrastructure. The accusations were made in a statement released by the group’s political bureau, which claimed the attacks targeted key oil processing facilities, pipelines and storage sites in the Eastern Province, an area that supplies a substantial share of the kingdom’s crude output. Saudi officials have not confirmed the number of strikes but have acknowledged that several of their own air operations were conducted in response to Houthi missile and drone launches earlier this week.

Analysts warn that sustained aerial activity in the region could disrupt production and export flows, potentially affecting global oil markets given Saudi Arabia’s role as a leading supplier. The Saudi Ministry of Energy has indicated that its oil facilities remain operational and that any damage is being swiftly repaired, while the kingdom’s military spokesperson dismissed the Houthi allegations as “exaggerated”. As tensions between the two sides persist, the international community continues to monitor the situation for any signs of broader economic impact on the oil sector.