Houthi Forces: Missile Attack King Khalid Base Escalates Conflict

• Houthi forces launched missile and drone attacks on Saudi military targets, including King Khalid Air Base in Khamis Mushait, on Monday.
• The Houthis stated these strikes were in retaliation for Saudi airstrikes, leading to alerts in Saudi cities and casualties among Yemeni government troops.
• The renewed fighting follows a four-year dormancy in Yemen's civil war and coincides with Houthi control over the Red Sea coast and the strategic Bab al-Mandab Strait.
• Iran denied direct involvement in the conflict, despite its historical support for the Houthi movement with weapons and technology.
• U.S. President Donald Trump expressed openness to talks with Iran, even as reports indicated he previously rejected a Saudi request for intervention in the war.

The Houthi military spokesman, Yahya Saree, confirmed the group's latest strikes specifically targeted critical infrastructure at King Khalid Air Base in Khamis Mushait, including fighter jet hangars, radars, runways, and ammunition depots.

Yemen's Houthi forces initiated a new wave of missile and drone attacks against Saudi military installations on Monday. The Houthi military spokesman, Yahya Saree, confirmed the group's latest strikes specifically targeted critical infrastructure at King Khalid Air Base in Khamis Mushait, including fighter jet hangars, radars, runways, and ammunition depots. These actions were declared as direct retaliation for airstrikes conducted by Riyadh.

In response to the barrage, Saudi Civil Defense issued immediate alerts in the nearby cities of Khamis Mushait and Abha. A resident of Khamis Mushait recounted hearing "intense blasts" that led to fires burning for a "long time," disrupting sleep. Beyond the Saudi border, Houthi missile attacks in western Yemen claimed the lives of eight troops from Yemeni government forces and wounded several others, according to two military sources from the Aden-based administration. These casualties occurred in positions situated between the Marib and Al-Jawf governorates, with the Houthis' Al-Masirah channel reporting strikes in the same area as reinforcements arrived.

Meanwhile, Yemeni government forces reported their own military successes, stating on Sunday that they had recaptured positions from Houthi fighters in the southwestern province of Taiz. Official reports via the Saba news agency indicated that these operations included airstrikes, which resulted in the deaths of at least 10 Houthi gunmen.

The recent Houthi offensive marks a significant escalation in Yemen's civil war, which had remained largely dormant for four years before reigniting in July following an Iranian flight to the capital, Sanaa. This renewed fighting is unfolding within the broader context of a stalemated regional conflict. Just last week, Houthi forces asserted control over Yemen's Red Sea coast and the strategically vital Bab al-Mandab Strait.

The seizure of Bab al-Mandab carries substantial geopolitical weight, particularly as the wider U.S.-Iran conflict continues to impact the Strait of Hormuz. Iran had previously issued threats to open "new fronts," explicitly mentioning Bab al-Mandab, underscoring its strategic importance. The recent Houthi offensive has also significantly impacted global energy markets, driving oil prices higher and forcing Saudi oil exports to rely on the lengthy Suez Canal and around Africa route to reach key Asian markets securely.

Adding to the complex narrative, on Saturday, September 12, 2026, Yemeni civilians were observed celebrating in the Bani Matar district as they followed a convoy transporting Houthi prisoners, who had been freed in Mokha, on their journey to Sanaa. This event occurred in the wake of the Houthi takeover of the southern Red Sea port city, highlighting the group's expanding influence and the shifting dynamics on the ground.

Amidst the renewed hostilities, Iran has vehemently denied any direct involvement in Yemen's revived civil war. Esmaeil Baqaei, Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesman, asserted on Monday that "Iran does not interfere in Yemeni affairs," characterizing the Houthis as "entirely independent actors who make their decisions based on their own interests." Despite this denial, Tehran has a documented history of supporting the Houthis, a key member of its anti-Israel "axis of resistance," providing them with weapons and technology, although analysts remain divided on the extent of Iran's influence over the current resurgence of fighting.

Internationally, U.S. President Donald Trump indicated a willingness to engage in discussions with Iran, stating on his Truth Social network that "The failing Nation of Iran wants to make a deal, quickly and badly. I will determine whether or not the U.S.A. will choose to engage - The concept of which we are open to." This statement comes after American media reports last week suggested President Trump had rejected a personal plea from Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman for U.S. intervention in the conflict.

Further diplomatic movements saw Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman meet with U.S. Central Command chief Adm. Brad Cooper in Jeddah on Monday to discuss "the latest" regional developments. Concurrently, a proposed meeting between Gulf states and Iran, intended to address the future of Hormuz, was postponed on Monday. Tehran subsequently accused Riyadh of leveraging the situation in Yemen as a "pretext" to delay these critical talks.

Source: Reporting from AFP and AP dispatches