Saudi Arabia threatens retaliation after Houthi missile attack on oil facilities

Saudi Arabia warned on Tuesday that it would respond militarily after a barrage of missiles launched by Yemen’s Houthi rebels ignited several oil-processing facilities and injured dozens of workers. The attack, described by officials as the Houthis’ most extensive strike in years, targeted the kingdom’s key export infrastructure along the Red Sea coast, temporarily halting production and prompting emergency evacuations. Saudi defense spokespeople said the retaliation would be proportionate and aimed at neutralising the rebel capabilities responsible for the assault.

The missile barrage follows the collapse of a four‑year cease‑fire between Riyadh and the Iran‑backed Houthis in July, a development that has unfolded amid heightened tensions in the broader Middle East conflict between the United States and Iran. France 24 analyst Rochelle Ferguson Bouyahi noted that the renewed hostilities underscore the fragility of regional security arrangements and could further destabilise global oil markets if the fighting expands. Saudi authorities have pledged to safeguard their energy assets while seeking diplomatic channels to de‑escalate the situation.