Iran bolstered the Houthis in Yemen in advance before the Tehran-backed and funded militant group announced a maritime blockade in the Red Sea and started attacking commercial ships as part of a strategy. Iran flew Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) commanders, military advisers, and missile- and drone-related equipment into Yemen earlier this month, according to four sources, as per a Reuters report.&nbsp;&nbsp;Tehran’s move indicates that it was seeking to strengthen the ability of its Houthi allies to threaten Red Sea shipping.&nbsp;As per four sources privy to the matter, including two Iranian sources, Yemen’s information minister and a regional security analyst, Iran transferred the IRGC personnel and military-related equipment on a flight from Tehran to Yemen on July 13.&nbsp;The two Iranian sources said that between 10 and 21 IRGC personnel, including senior commanders, were on the Mahan Air flight.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-says-us-will-hold-iran-responsible-for-houthi-attacks-on-ships-in-red-sea-1784813106940">Trump says US will hold Iran responsible for Houthi attacks on ships in Red Sea</a>&nbsp;The plane was originally bound for the Houthi-controlled capital, Sanaa, but was diverted to the Red Sea port city of Hodeidah after the airport came under attack by the Saudi-backed Yemeni government.&nbsp;“The IRGC commanders travelled there to support Houthi operations and provide training on new missile systems,” said one source, adding that Iran also sent gold on the aircraft to fund Houthi activities.The two Iranian sources spoke on condition ⁠of anonymity because of security concerns. Tehran repeatedly denies providing missile capabilities to the Houthis in Yemen.&nbsp;&nbsp;The recent Iranian deployment of men and military gear in Yemen is evidence of Tehran’s efforts to reinforce the Houthis, who have been in a civil war against the Saudi-backed, internationally recognised Yemeni government for more than a decade and have attacked Gulf neighbours and Israel.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/standing-invitation-sent-four-proposals-centre-invites-cjp-again-for-talks-1784801202195">‘Standing invitation, sent four proposals’: Centre invites CJP again for talks</a><h2>Houthis imposed Saudi blockade days after arrival of IRGC commanders</h2>&nbsp;Three days after the flight arrived in Yemen, Tehran had asked the Houthis to be ready to close the Red Sea oil route if the US struck Iranian power infrastructure in order to pose a new threat to global energy supplies, the report added.&nbsp;The Houthis announced a naval blockade of Saudi Arabia on Monday.&nbsp;The threat to one of the world’s ⁠top maritime trade routes escalated further on Thursday when the group claimed to have attacked two Saudi oil tankers.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/standing-invitation-sent-four-proposals-centre-invites-cjp-again-for-talks-1784801202195">‘Standing invitation, sent four proposals’: Centre invites CJP again for talks</a>&nbsp;Moammar al-Iryani, who is information minister in Yemen’s government, confirmed, citing intelligence, the transfers of IRGC personnel and equipment.“Their mission is to strengthen the militias’ military capabilities and prepare them to threaten international maritime security in the Red Sea and the Bab al-Mandab Strait,” he said.&nbsp;<h2>Flight carried missile and drone components: Security analyst</h2>&nbsp;Mzahem Alsaloum, a security and intelligence analyst who has been tracking the Houthis and other Iranian-backed militant groups, said some of the ⁠cargo included components related to short- and medium-range missiles and drones, weapons systems similar to those previously used in attacks on Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.&nbsp;The Houthis had announced direct flights between Sanaa and Tehran earlier this month, saying the service would help break ⁠what they described as a Saudi-imposed blockade on Yemen.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/will-plant-50-gm-mumbai-cop-shunted-for-threatening-to-fabricate-drug-charges-on-protesters-probe-ordered-1784805108224">‘Will plant 50gm’: Mumbai cop shunted for threatening to fabricate drug charges on protesters; probe ordered</a>&nbsp;At a press conference on July 20, Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said the flight to Sanaa on July 13 was intended to take home a Houthi delegation who had come to attend the funeral of slain Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, as well as Yemeni citizens who had received medical treatment in Iran.The aircraft flew in on July 3 with around 200 people, including senior officials, women, and children, for the funeral but returned on July 13 also carrying IRGC commanders and advisers to Yemen.&nbsp;&nbsp;The Saudi-backed government had struck the Sanaa airport, forcing the aircraft to divert to Houthi-controlled Hodeidah.

Two Iranian sources said that between 10 and 21 IRGC personnel, including senior commanders, were on the Mahan Air flight from Tehran to Yemen on July 13. The IRGC commanders travelled there to support Houthi operations and provide training on new missile systems.

Iran bolstered the Houthis in Yemen in advance before the Tehran-backed and funded militant group announced a maritime blockade in the Red Sea and started attacking commercial ships as part of a strategy. Iran flew Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) commanders, military advisers, and missile- and drone-related equipment into Yemen earlier this month, according to four sources, as per a Reuters report. Tehran’s move indicates that it was seeking to strengthen the ability of its Houthi allies to threaten Red Sea shipping. As per four sources privy to the matter, including two Iranian sources, Yemen’s information minister and a regional security analyst, Iran transferred the IRGC personnel and military-related equipment on a flight from Tehran to Yemen on July 13. The two Iranian sources said that between 10 and 21 IRGC personnel, including senior commanders, were on the Mahan Air flight. Also Read: Trump says US will hold Iran responsible for Houthi attacks on ships in Red Sea The plane was originally bound for the Houthi-controlled capital, Sanaa, but was diverted to the Red Sea port city of Hodeidah after the airport came under attack by the Saudi-backed Yemeni government. “The IRGC commanders travelled there to support Houthi operations and provide training on new missile systems,” said one source, adding that Iran also sent gold on the aircraft to fund Houthi activities. The two Iranian sources spoke on condition ⁠of anonymity because of security concerns. Tehran repeatedly denies providing missile capabilities to the Houthis in Yemen. The recent Iranian deployment of men and military gear in Yemen is evidence of Tehran’s efforts to reinforce the Houthis, who have been in a civil war against the Saudi-backed, internationally recognised Yemeni government for more than a decade and have attacked Gulf neighbours and Israel. Also Read: ‘Standing invitation, sent four proposals’: Centre invites CJP again for talks Houthis imposed Saudi blockade days after arrival of IRGC commanders Three days after the flight arrived in Yemen, Tehran had asked the Houthis to be ready to close the Red Sea oil route if the US struck Iranian power infrastructure in order to pose a new threat to global energy supplies, the report added. The Houthis announced a naval blockade of Saudi Arabia on Monday. The threat to one of the world’s ⁠top maritime trade routes escalated further on Thursday when the group claimed to have attacked two Saudi oil tankers. Also Read: ‘Standing invitation, sent four proposals’: Centre invites CJP again for talks Moammar al-Iryani, who is information minister in Yemen’s government, confirmed, citing intelligence, the transfers of IRGC personnel and equipment. “Their mission is to strengthen the militias’ military capabilities and prepare them to threaten international maritime security in the Red Sea and the Bab al-Mandab Strait,” he said. Flight carried missile and drone components: Security analyst Mzahem Alsaloum, a security and intelligence analyst who has been tracking the Houthis and other Iranian-backed militant groups, said some of the ⁠cargo included components related to short- and medium-range missiles and drones, weapons systems similar to those previously used in attacks on Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. The Houthis had announced direct flights between Sanaa and Tehran earlier this month, saying the service would help break ⁠what they described as a Saudi-imposed blockade on Yemen. Also Read: ‘Will plant 50gm’: Mumbai cop shunted for threatening to fabricate drug charges on protesters; probe ordered At a press conference on July 20, Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said the flight to Sanaa on July 13 was intended to take home a Houthi delegation who had come to attend the funeral of slain Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, as well as Yemeni citizens who had received medical treatment in Iran. The aircraft flew in on July 3 with around 200 people, including senior officials, women, and children, for the funeral but returned on July 13 also carrying IRGC commanders and advisers to Yemen. The Saudi-backed government had struck the Sanaa airport, forcing the aircraft to divert to Houthi-controlled Hodeidah.

Two Iranian sources said that between 10 and 21 IRGC personnel, including senior commanders, were on the Mahan Air flight from Tehran to Yemen on July 13. The IRGC commanders travelled there to support Houthi operations and provide training on new missile systems.

Iran flew IRGC men, advisers and military gear to Yemen, bolstered Houthis for Red Sea blockade: Sources

President Donald Trump on Thursday said that the US will hold Iran responsible for future Houthi attacks on shipping in the Red Sea after the Tehran-backed militant group claimed to have struck two Saudi oil tankers.Trump also warned of inflicting major military punishment upon Iran and the Houthis if the attacks happen again.Trump’s warning comes as Yemen’s Houthis threaten to open up a new front in the Middle East conflict as the US completed its 12th consecutive night of strikes on Iran.&nbsp;Trump said in a Truth Social post that the US attacked the Houthis “very powerfully” a year ago for disrupting global trade by shooting ships.&nbsp;“Since that time, and during our conflict with Iran, they have acted very responsibly. Unfortunately, now they are starting up again, shooting at two Saudi Arabian ships last night,” Trump wrote in the post.&nbsp;“Please let this TRUTH serve to represent that if they do this again, the U.S. will hold Iran responsible, in that the Houthis are a Surrogate and/or Proxy of Iran, and major military punishment will be inflicted upon Iran and, of course, the Houthis, themselves, who I am very disappointed with in that they have, until now, acted very professionally and smart,” he added.&nbsp;

&nbsp;&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/ceo-selection-to-take-time-faith-of-devotees-remains-unwavering-ram-temple-trust-1784748938634">‘CEO selection to take time; faith of devotees remains unwavering’: Ram Temple Trust</a>&nbsp;Yemen’s Houthis said on Wednesday that they had targeted two Saudi oil tankers, named Encelia and Layla, with drones and missiles for allegedly violating their maritime blockade. The attack was the first since the militant group announced a naval blockade against Saudi Arabia.&nbsp;The state-run Saudi Press Agency, or SPA, confirmed the Encelia was targeted while transiting the Red Sea, resulting in a fire at the bow of the vessel. Citing an unnamed official from the Transport General Authority, the agency reported all crew were safe and described the attack as a violation of international law. The SPA did not provide an update on the Layla tanker.&nbsp;United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations, or UKMTO, also reported Wednesday that an “unknown projectile” struck a Saudi oil tanker about 130 kilometres (80 miles) from the coastal town of Al Shuqaiq in Saudi Arabia. UKMTO said the incident resulted in a fire onboard and reported no casualties.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/standing-invitation-sent-four-proposals-centre-invites-cjp-again-for-talks-1784801202195">‘Standing invitation, sent four proposals’: Centre invites CJP again for talks</a>&nbsp;Meanwhile, US Central Command said that American forces completed another round of attacks against Iran overnight, hitting military targets including maritime capabilities, missile and drone storage facilities, and air defence assets.&nbsp;“The strikes further degrade Iran’s ability to attack civilian mariners and commercial vessels,” Centcom said in a statement.&nbsp;It added that US forces have targeted dozens of Iranian military sites on land this month while resuming a blockade against the Islamic Republic at sea. As of Thursday evening, Centcom said it had redirected nine commercial vessels and disabled one to prevent ships from entering or departing Iranian ports.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/oppn-using-students-as-political-tools-creating-manufactured-sense-of-anger-rajnath-singh-1784716925229">‘Oppn using students as political tools, creating ‘manufactured sense of anger’: Rajnath Singh</a><h2>‘Iran is still not ready to make a deal’: Rubio</h2>&nbsp;US Secretary of State Marco Rubio told reporters on Thursday that Iran is still not ready to make a deal — “at least not one they are willing to live by.”“They are going to continue to pay a price and every night the price gets higher and higher and higher,” Rubio said.Asked for his reaction to Houthi-claimed attacks on two Saudi oil tankers in the Red Sea, Rubio said: “I hope that they will stop. They shouldn’t really do that. They got suckered into this by the Iranians.”&nbsp;<h2>Brent North Sea oil price hits $100</h2>&nbsp;The price of the benchmark international oil contract, Brent North Sea, reached $100 a barrel in trading on Thursday after Yemen’s Houthi rebels struck oil tankers in the Red Sea.&nbsp;Brent soared more than six per cent to hit the $100 level, as the attacks potentially opened a new front in the Middle East war with President Donald Trump threatening the rebels with “major military punishment”.&nbsp;The main US oil contract, West Texas Intermediate, rallied 5.0 percent to $91.19 a barrel.

Yemen’s Houthis said on Wednesday that they had targeted two Saudi oil tankers, named Encelia and Layla, with drones and missiles for allegedly violating their maritime blockade. The attack was the first since the militant group announced a naval blockade against Saudi Arabia.

President Donald Trump on Thursday said that the US will hold Iran responsible for future Houthi attacks on shipping in the Red Sea after the Tehran-backed militant group claimed to have struck two Saudi oil tankers. Trump also warned of inflicting major military punishment upon Iran and the Houthis if the attacks happen again. Trump’s warning comes as Yemen’s Houthis threaten to open up a new front in the Middle East conflict as the US completed its 12th consecutive night of strikes on Iran. Trump said in a Truth Social post that the US attacked the Houthis “very powerfully” a year ago for disrupting global trade by shooting ships. “Since that time, and during our conflict with Iran, they have acted very responsibly. Unfortunately, now they are starting up again, shooting at two Saudi Arabian ships last night,” Trump wrote in the post. “Please let this TRUTH serve to represent that if they do this again, the U.S. will hold Iran responsible, in that the Houthis are a Surrogate and/or Proxy of Iran, and major military punishment will be inflicted upon Iran and, of course, the Houthis, themselves, who I am very disappointed with in that they have, until now, acted very professionally and smart,” he added.

Yemen’s Houthis said on Wednesday that they had targeted two Saudi oil tankers, named Encelia and Layla, with drones and missiles for allegedly violating their maritime blockade. The attack was the first since the militant group announced a naval blockade against Saudi Arabia.

Trump says US will hold Iran responsible for Houthi attacks on ships in Red Sea

The Iran-backed Houthis in Yemen on Monday accused Saudi Arabia of carrying out airstrikes at the Sanaa Airport in the capital to prevent a plane landing and vowed to retaliate. “In a blatant and unjust aggression, the criminal Saudi enemy carried out a number of airstrikes targeting Sanaa International Airport, thereby ending the period of de-escalation and bearing responsibility for the consequences of its aggression,” Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Saree said in a statement, adding, “We affirm that this aggression will not go unanswered or unpunished.”&nbsp;The Houthis who control northern Yemen also vowed to retaliate as Yahya Saree said regional power Saudi Arabia would bear the consequences.&nbsp;The Saudi government did not respond to the accusations.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-forces-use-sea-drones-to-strike-iranian-sub-and-ship-maintenance-facility-in-hormuz-watch-1783958957438">US forces use sea drones to strike Iranian sub and ship maintenance facility in Hormuz | Watch</a>&nbsp;

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">WATCH: Close-up footage shows the moment of Saudi airstrikes on Sanaa International Airport in Yemen. <a href="https://t.co/Bk05enoUhb">https://t.co/Bk05enoUhb</a> <a href="https://t.co/yAx0oqXbIU">pic.twitter.com/yAx0oqXbIU</a>&mdash; Conflict Radar (@Conflict_Radar) <a href="https://x.com/Conflict_Radar/status/2076657118829023234?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 13, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

&nbsp;&nbsp;Meanwhile, the ⁠general aviation authority of Yemen’s internationally recognised government ordered the closure of all airports nationwide to air traffic until further notice.Earlier on Monday, the Yemen government’s defence ministry said that its armed forces had targeted the runway at Sanaa International Airport to prevent an Iranian plane from landing. The aircraft later landed at the Hodeidah airport, a Houthi-controlled facility.The Yemen government operates from the southern port of Aden and has the backing of Saudi Arabia and other Gulf states.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/uk-proscribes-iran-s-islamic-revolutionary-guards-as-terror-organisation-1783946588025">UK proscribes Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards as terror organisation</a><h2>‘Houthis have detained aircraft of International Committee of Red Cross’</h2>&nbsp;Yemen has faced civil war and proxy warfare from outside powers for more than a decade, since the Houthis seized the capital and forced the ⁠government to relocate to the south.After years of fighting between a Saudi-led coalition and the Houthis, a 2022 truce has largely held, despite regional escalation during the Israel-Hamas war and Iran conflict when the Houthis fired on Red Sea shipping.Yemen’s information minister Moammar bin Mutahar Al-Eryan said the Houthis have detained an aircraft belonging to ⁠the International Committee of the Red Cross at the Sanaa airport and were holding its pilot and co-pilot.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/baseless-misleading-piyush-goyal-slams-report-saying-india-rejected-quick-trade-deal-with-us-1783949852457">‘Baseless, misleading’: Piyush Goyal slams report saying India rejected quick trade deal with US</a><h2>Targeted Sanaa Airport runway to stop Iranian plane landing: Yemeni military</h2>&nbsp;Yemen’s defence ministry said that its armed forces targeted the runway at Sanaa International Airport to prevent an Iranian plane from landing.Yemen’s capital Sanaa is also under the control of the Iran-aligned Houthi group.Earlier on Monday, the government's defence minister had said it had exhausted diplomatic efforts to persuade Iran and the Houthis to stop an Iranian aircraft from violating Yemeni airspace. He said government forces would respond to any hostile aircraft violating Yemen’s airspace by all available means and held Iran responsible.&nbsp;

The Yemen government’s defence ministry said that its armed forces had targeted the runway at Sanaa International Airport to prevent an Iranian plane from landing. The aircraft later landed at the Hodeidah airport, a Houthi-controlled facility.

The Iran-backed Houthis in Yemen on Monday accused Saudi Arabia of carrying out airstrikes at the Sanaa Airport in the capital to prevent a plane landing and vowed to retaliate. “In a blatant and unjust aggression, the criminal Saudi enemy carried out a number of airstrikes targeting Sanaa International Airport, thereby ending the period of de-escalation and bearing responsibility for the consequences of its aggression,” Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Saree said in a statement, adding, “We affirm that this aggression will not go unanswered or unpunished.” The Houthis who control northern Yemen also vowed to retaliate as Yahya Saree said regional power Saudi Arabia would bear the consequences. The Saudi government did not respond to the accusations. Also Read: US forces use sea drones to strike Iranian sub and ship maintenance facility in Hormuz | Watch

The Yemen government’s defence ministry said that its armed forces had targeted the runway at Sanaa International Airport to prevent an Iranian plane from landing. The aircraft later landed at the Hodeidah airport, a Houthi-controlled facility..

Houthis accuse Saudi Arabia of striking Sanaa airport; Yemen orders closure of all airports

Houthis, the Iran-backed rebel group based in Yemen, on Saturday, launched a missile strike on Israel a day after it warned of intervention if attacks on Iran continued. Israel said it intercepted the missile. The Iranian-backed group confirmed to have attacked Israel for the first time since the start of the US-Israeli war with Iran, saying it fired a barrage of ballistic missiles “targeting sensitive Israeli military sites” in response to the targeting of Iran, Lebanon, Iraq, and Palestinian territories. It added that its operations will continue until the “aggression” on all fronts ends.The Houthis’ confirmation came after the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said it intercepted a missile from Yemen.The attack marks the entry of Houthis into the conflict just hours after US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the United States expects to conclude military operations within “weeks, not months”.&nbsp;Speaking to reporters after the meeting of G7 foreign ministers in France on Friday, while referring to Iran, Rubio had said, “When we are done with them here in the next couple weeks, they will be weaker than they’ve been in recent history.”&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/israel-confirms-strikes-on-uranium-processing-facility-in-iran-s-yazd-heavy-water-plant-in-arak-1774635549825">Israel confirms strikes on uranium processing facility in Iran’s Yazd, heavy water plant in Arak</a><h2>Houthi entry raises risk of conflict expanding?</h2>&nbsp;&nbsp;Houthi entry increases the risk of broadening the conflict, as they can strike targets far beyond Yemen and disrupt shipping around the Arabian Peninsula and the Red Sea, like they had done in support of Hamas after the 7 October attacks on Israel.&nbsp;Houthis are an armed political and religious group that backs Yemen’s Shia Muslim minority, the Zaidis. The group has controlled much of northwest Yemen since 2014, when they ousted the internationally-recognised government from the capital, Sanaa.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/-stop-attacks-on-civilians-says-g7-commits-to-securing-strait-of-hormuz-1774629605321">‘Stop attacks on civilians,’ says G7, commits to securing Strait of Hormuz</a>&nbsp;The attack by Houthis raises the question of whether the rebel group will again target commercial shipping travelling through the Red Sea corridor at a time when a number of tankers have been attacked in the Strait of Hormuz, which has effectively been closed by Iran.&nbsp;<h2>Houthis attacks hit Red Sea shipping in 2023</h2>&nbsp;The Houthis had started attacking shipping in the Red Sea in November 2023 and launched missiles at Israel, saying they were acting in solidarity with the Palestinians.The Houthis targeted commercial shipping with drone and missile attacks as well as assaults by boat and helicopter, leading to companies redirecting their ships away from the Red Sea and choosing the much longer journey around Africa’s Cape of Good Hope.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/ukraine-signs-air-defence-deal-with-saudi-arabia-offering-drone-expertise-1774615347801">Ukraine signs air defence deal with Saudi Arabia, offers its drone expertise</a>&nbsp;The Houthis also carried out attacks against British and US warships in January 2024.The UK and US carried out a series of attacks against Houthi targets in Yemen in response and deployed a Royal Navy destroyer to protect shipping from attacks by the Houthi rebels.&nbsp;

The attack by Houthis raises the question of whether the rebel group will again target commercial shipping travelling through the Red Sea corridor at a time when a number of tankers have been attacked in the Strait of Hormuz, which has effectively been closed by Iran.

Houthis, the Iran-backed rebel group based in Yemen, on Saturday, launched a missile strike on Israel a day after it warned of intervention if attacks on Iran continued. Israel said it intercepted the missile. The Iranian-backed group confirmed to have attacked Israel for the first time since the start of the US-Israeli war with Iran, saying it fired a barrage of ballistic missiles “targeting sensitive Israeli military sites” in response to the targeting of Iran, Lebanon, Iraq, and Palestinian territories. It added that its operations will continue until the “aggression” on all fronts ends. The Houthis’ confirmation came after the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said it intercepted a missile from Yemen. The attack marks the entry of Houthis into the conflict just hours after US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the United States expects to conclude military operations within “weeks, not months”. Speaking to reporters after the meeting of G7 foreign ministers in France on Friday, while referring to Iran, Rubio had said, “When we are done with them here in the next couple weeks, they will be weaker than they’ve been in recent history.” Also Read: Israel confirms strikes on uranium processing facility in Iran’s Yazd, heavy water plant in Arak Houthi entry raises risk of conflict expanding? Houthi entry increases the risk of broadening the conflict, as they can strike targets far beyond Yemen and disrupt shipping around the Arabian Peninsula and the Red Sea, like they had done in support of Hamas after the 7 October attacks on Israel. Houthis are an armed political and religious group that backs Yemen’s Shia Muslim minority, the Zaidis. The group has controlled much of northwest Yemen since 2014, when they ousted the internationally-recognised government from the capital, Sanaa. Also Read: ‘Stop attacks on civilians,’ says G7, commits to securing Strait of Hormuz The attack by Houthis raises the question of whether the rebel group will again target commercial shipping travelling through the Red Sea corridor at a time when a number of tankers have been attacked in the Strait of Hormuz, which has effectively been closed by Iran. Houthis attacks hit Red Sea shipping in 2023 The Houthis had started attacking shipping in the Red Sea in November 2023 and launched missiles at Israel, saying they were acting in solidarity with the Palestinians. The Houthis targeted commercial shipping with drone and missile attacks as well as assaults by boat and helicopter, leading to companies redirecting their ships away from the Red Sea and choosing the much longer journey around Africa’s Cape of Good Hope. Also Read: Ukraine signs air defence deal with Saudi Arabia, offers its drone expertise The Houthis also carried out attacks against British and US warships in January 2024. The UK and US carried out a series of attacks against Houthi targets in Yemen in response and deployed a Royal Navy destroyer to protect shipping from attacks by the Houthi rebels.

The attack by Houthis raises the question of whether the rebel group will again target commercial shipping travelling through the Red Sea corridor at a time when a number of tankers have been attacked in the Strait of Hormuz, which has effectively been closed by Iran.

Houthis launch first attack on Israel since outbreak of Iran war, fire ballistic missiles

A court operating under Yemen's Houthi rebels on Saturday sentenced 17 people to death for spying on behalf of Israel, the United States and Saudi Arabia, rebel media said. The Houthis' Saba news agency said the court in the capital Sanaa had sentenced the 17 individuals in cases relating to "espionage cells within a spy network affiliated with the American, Israeli and Saudi intelligence". It said they were sentenced to be executed by firing squad.&nbsp;Lawyer Abdulbasit Ghazi, representing some of the defendants, said on Facebook that they can appeal the sentence.&nbsp;The charges included "colluding with foreign nations in a state of enmity with Yemen during the 2024-2025 period, namely Saudi Arabia, Britain and America and spying for their interests through officers from those countries and from the Israeli Mossad" intelligence service.&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/-not-possibly-be-my-life-jfk-s-granddaughter-tatiana-schlossberg-announces-terminal-cancer-diagnosis-1763901536160">'Not possibly be my life...': JFK's granddaughter Tatiana Schlossberg announces terminal cancer diagnosis</a>&nbsp;The defendants were also accused of "incitement and aiding with the recruitment of a number of citizens... which led to the targeting of several military, security and civilian sites resulting in the death of dozens and widespread destruction of infrastructure".&nbsp;A man and a woman were sentenced to 10 years in prison each, and another person was acquitted in the same case.&nbsp;Israel has hit targets in Yemen repeatedly over the past two years in response to attacks by the Houthis on Israel, which the rebels said were in solidarity with Palestinians in the Gaza Strip.&nbsp;In the wake of the Israeli attacks, the Houthis have launched a widespread campaign of arrests targeting those it accuses of spying for Israel or the United States.&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/-should-be-in-jail-trump-slams-democrats-over-military-message-1763896293214">‘Should be in jail’: Trump slams Democrats over military message</a>&nbsp;The crackdown intensified following an August strike that killed rebel prime minister Ahmed Ghaleb Nasser al-Rahawi.&nbsp;Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

In the wake of the Israeli attacks, the Houthis have launched a widespread campaign of arrests targeting those it accuses of spying for Israel or the United States.

A court operating under Yemen's Houthi rebels on Saturday sentenced 17 people to death for spying on behalf of Israel, the United States and Saudi Arabia, rebel media said. The Houthis' Saba news agency said the court in the capital Sanaa had sentenced the 17 individuals in cases relating to "espionage cells within a spy network affiliated with the American, Israeli and Saudi intelligence". It said they were sentenced to be executed by firing squad. Lawyer Abdulbasit Ghazi, representing some of the defendants, said on Facebook that they can appeal the sentence. The charges included "colluding with foreign nations in a state of enmity with Yemen during the 2024-2025 period, namely Saudi Arabia, Britain and America and spying for their interests through officers from those countries and from the Israeli Mossad" intelligence service. Also Read - 'Not possibly be my life...': JFK's granddaughter Tatiana Schlossberg announces terminal cancer diagnosis The defendants were also accused of "incitement and aiding with the recruitment of a number of citizens... which led to the targeting of several military, security and civilian sites resulting in the death of dozens and widespread destruction of infrastructure". A man and a woman were sentenced to 10 years in prison each, and another person was acquitted in the same case. Israel has hit targets in Yemen repeatedly over the past two years in response to attacks by the Houthis on Israel, which the rebels said were in solidarity with Palestinians in the Gaza Strip. In the wake of the Israeli attacks, the Houthis have launched a widespread campaign of arrests targeting those it accuses of spying for Israel or the United States. Also Read - ‘Should be in jail’: Trump slams Democrats over military message The crackdown intensified following an August strike that killed rebel prime minister Ahmed Ghaleb Nasser al-Rahawi. Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

In the wake of the Israeli attacks, the Houthis have launched a widespread campaign of arrests targeting those it accuses of spying for Israel or the United States.

Yemen's Houthis sentence 17 to death over spying for Israel, US, Saudi: Reports

Yemen's Houthis said on Friday in a statement that they had fired "a ballistic missile and a drone" deep into Israel.

"In support of Palestine and Lebanon, we carried out a military operation against an Israeli target in the Jaffa area, Tel Aviv, using a ballistic missile, and launched a drone attack on another vital Israeli target in the coastal Israeli city of Ashkelon," the statement, aired by the Houthi-run al-Masirah TV, quoted Houthi military spokesman Yahya Sarea as saying.

The two operations, occurring on Thursday night, "achieved their goals successfully," Sarea noted, vowing to continue strikes against Israeli targets to support the resistance of "brothers in Palestine and Lebanon," Xinhua news agency reported.

Meanwhile, the Israeli military confirmed earlier in a statement that militants in Yemen launched at least one missile toward Israel overnight between Thursday and Friday, setting off air raid sirens across central Israel, including Tel Aviv.

The army said the missile was "successfully" intercepted and that the details were still under review, reporting no casualties. 
This latest Houthi attack on Tel Aviv follows two previous ones targeting central Israel - a drone attack in July that killed one person and a missile attack earlier this month that caused a fire in an empty area in Kfar Daniel, another location in the region, according to Israeli media outlets.

The Houthi group, which controls large swathes of northern Yemen, has been attacking "Israeli-linked" shipping near the country's coastline since November 2023, allegedly to support Palestinians in their conflict with Israelis.

The group is aligned with the anti-Israel "axis of resistance," which also includes Iran, Hezbollah, Hamas, and militant groups in Iraq and Syria, among others.

Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for&nbsp;WION&nbsp;audience.

Yemen's Houthis said on Friday in a statement that they had fired "a ballistic missile and a drone" deep into Israel. "In support of Palestine and Lebanon, we carried out a military operation against an Israeli target in the Jaffa area, Tel Aviv, using a ballistic missile, and launched a drone attack on another vital Israeli target in the coastal Israeli city of Ashkelon," the statement, aired by the Houthi-run al-Masirah TV, quoted Houthi military spokesman Yahya Sarea as saying.

Yemen's Houthis said on Friday in a statement that they had fired "a ballistic missile and a drone" deep into Israel. "In support of Palestine and Lebanon, we carried out a military operation against an Israeli target in the Jaffa area, Tel Aviv, using a ballistic missile, and launched a drone attack on another vital Israeli target in the coastal Israeli city of Ashkelon," the statement, aired by the Houthi-run al-Masirah TV, quoted Houthi military spokesman Yahya Sarea as saying. The two operations, occurring on Thursday night, "achieved their goals successfully," Sarea noted, vowing to continue strikes against Israeli targets to support the resistance of "brothers in Palestine and Lebanon," Xinhua news agency reported. Meanwhile, the Israeli military confirmed earlier in a statement that militants in Yemen launched at least one missile toward Israel overnight between Thursday and Friday, setting off air raid sirens across central Israel, including Tel Aviv. The army said the missile was "successfully" intercepted and that the details were still under review, reporting no casualties. This latest Houthi attack on Tel Aviv follows two previous ones targeting central Israel - a drone attack in July that killed one person and a missile attack earlier this month that caused a fire in an empty area in Kfar Daniel, another location in the region, according to Israeli media outlets. The Houthi group, which controls large swathes of northern Yemen, has been attacking "Israeli-linked" shipping near the country's coastline since November 2023, allegedly to support Palestinians in their conflict with Israelis. The group is aligned with the anti-Israel "axis of resistance," which also includes Iran, Hezbollah, Hamas, and militant groups in Iraq and Syria, among others. Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Yemen’s Houthis claim they fired 'ballistic missile, drone' deep into Israel

Yemen's <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/after-yemen-ex-presidents-death-houthi-leader-reaches-out-to-salehs-party-25930">Houthi </a>group did not launch an attack on Saudi Arabia's oil facilities in September, according to a confidential report by&nbsp;UN&nbsp;sanctions monitors seen by Reuters on Wednesday, bolstering a US&nbsp;accusation that Iran was responsible.

The United States, European powers and <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/saudi-arabia-appeals-for-calm-after-killing-of-iranian-general-qasem-soleimani-272563">Saudi Arabia</a> blamed Iran for the September&nbsp;14 attack on the Saudi Aramco oil plants in Abqaiq and Khurais, dismissing a quick claim of responsibility by the Iran-allied Houthis. Tehran denied any involvement.

The report by the independent&nbsp;UN&nbsp;experts to the Security Council Yemen sanctions committee said, "That despite their claims to the contrary, the Houthi forces did not launch the attacks on Abqaiq and Khurais on 14 September 2019."

The findings of the&nbsp;UN report come amid escalating tensions in the region after the United States killed Iranian General <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/now-its-time-for-iraqi-response-to-us-drone-strike-says-paramilitary-chief-qais-al-khazali-272966">Qasem Soleimani</a> in Baghdad and Tehran retaliated by firing missiles at military facilities housing US&nbsp;troops in Iraq.&nbsp;

The&nbsp;UN&nbsp;investigators said they doubted that the drones and land-attack cruise missiles used in the September 14&nbsp;attack "have a sufficient range to have been launched from Yemeni territory under the control of the Houthis."

"The panel notes that Abqaiq and Khurais were approached respectively from a north/northwestern and north/northeastern direction, rather than from the south, as one would expect in the case of a launch from Yemeni territory," the report said.

The investigators, who monitor sanctions on Yemen, also said they do not believe that "those comparatively sophisticated weapons were developed and manufactured in Yemen." They were not tasked with identifying who was responsible for the Saudi attack.

The attacks that targeted the Abqaiq and the Khurais oil plants caused a spike in oil prices, fires, and damage, and shut down more than 5 per cent&nbsp;of global oil supply. Saudi Arabia said on October 3 that it had fully restored oil output.

The Saudi minister of state for foreign affairs, Adel al-Jubeir, signaled in September that Riyadh was waiting for results of&nbsp;UN&nbsp;investigations before announcing how his country would respond.

"The United Nations sent people to be part of the investigation, other countries have sent experts to be part of the investigation," he told reporters in New York. "When the team that's investigating has concluded its investigations we will make the announcements publicly."

Reuters reported in November that Iran's Supreme Leader <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/we-fully-respect-iraqs-sovereignty-says-irans-un-ambassador-after-ballistic-missile-strike-273064">Ayatollah Ali Khamenei</a> had approved the attack on the Saudi oil facilities, but with strict conditions: Iranian forces had to avoid hitting any civilians or Americans. Iran rejected the version of events that four people described to Reuters.

UN&nbsp;experts monitoring&nbsp;UN&nbsp;sanctions on Iran and Yemen traveled to Saudi Arabia days after the September attack.

UN&nbsp;Secretary-General Antonio Guterres told the Security Council in a separate report on December&nbsp;10 on the implementation of an arms embargo and other restrictions on Iran - that the United Nations was "unable to independently corroborate" that missiles and drones used in the attacks "are of Iranian origin."

The report seen by Reuters on Wednesday is from the independent panel of experts that reports twice a year to the Security Council on the implementation of sanctions related to the conflict in Yemen that were imposed in 2014 and 2015.

It was submitted to the&nbsp;UN&nbsp;Security Council Yemen sanctions committee on December 27, but will not be made public until later this month or next month.

A proxy war has been playing out in Yemen between Iran and Saudi Arabia. The Saudi-led coalition intervened in 2015, backing government forces fighting the Iran-allied Houthis. The Houthis have been subject to a separate arms embargo since 2015. Iran has repeatedly denied supplying weapons to the Houthis.

"The Houthi forces continue to receive military support in the form of assault rifles, rocket-propelled grenade launchers, anti-tank guided missiles, as well as more sophisticated cruise missile systems," the report found.

"Some of those weapons have technical characteristics similar to arms manufactured in Iran," it said.

Yemen's Houthi group did not launch an attack on Saudi Arabia's oil facilities in September, according to a confidential report by UN sanctions monitors seen by Reuters on Wednesday, bolstering a US accusation that Iran was responsible.

Yemen's Houthi group did not launch an attack on Saudi Arabia's oil facilities in September, according to a confidential report by UN sanctions monitors seen by Reuters on Wednesday, bolstering a US accusation that Iran was responsible. The United States, European powers and Saudi Arabia blamed Iran for the September 14 attack on the Saudi Aramco oil plants in Abqaiq and Khurais, dismissing a quick claim of responsibility by the Iran-allied Houthis. Tehran denied any involvement. The report by the independent UN experts to the Security Council Yemen sanctions committee said, "That despite their claims to the contrary, the Houthi forces did not launch the attacks on Abqaiq and Khurais on 14 September 2019." The findings of the UN report come amid escalating tensions in the region after the United States killed Iranian General Qasem Soleimani in Baghdad and Tehran retaliated by firing missiles at military facilities housing US troops in Iraq. The UN investigators said they doubted that the drones and land-attack cruise missiles used in the September 14 attack "have a sufficient range to have been launched from Yemeni territory under the control of the Houthis." "The panel notes that Abqaiq and Khurais were approached respectively from a north/northwestern and north/northeastern direction, rather than from the south, as one would expect in the case of a launch from Yemeni territory," the report said. The investigators, who monitor sanctions on Yemen, also said they do not believe that "those comparatively sophisticated weapons were developed and manufactured in Yemen." They were not tasked with identifying who was responsible for the Saudi attack. The attacks that targeted the Abqaiq and the Khurais oil plants caused a spike in oil prices, fires, and damage, and shut down more than 5 per cent of global oil supply. Saudi Arabia said on October 3 that it had fully restored oil output. The Saudi minister of state for foreign affairs, Adel al-Jubeir, signaled in September that Riyadh was waiting for results of UN investigations before announcing how his country would respond. "The United Nations sent people to be part of the investigation, other countries have sent experts to be part of the investigation," he told reporters in New York. "When the team that's investigating has concluded its investigations we will make the announcements publicly." Reuters reported in November that Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei had approved the attack on the Saudi oil facilities, but with strict conditions: Iranian forces had to avoid hitting any civilians or Americans. Iran rejected the version of events that four people described to Reuters. UN experts monitoring UN sanctions on Iran and Yemen traveled to Saudi Arabia days after the September attack. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres told the Security Council in a separate report on December 10 on the implementation of an arms embargo and other restrictions on Iran - that the United Nations was "unable to independently corroborate" that missiles and drones used in the attacks "are of Iranian origin." The report seen by Reuters on Wednesday is from the independent panel of experts that reports twice a year to the Security Council on the implementation of sanctions related to the conflict in Yemen that were imposed in 2014 and 2015. It was submitted to the UN Security Council Yemen sanctions committee on December 27, but will not be made public until later this month or next month. A proxy war has been playing out in Yemen between Iran and Saudi Arabia. The Saudi-led coalition intervened in 2015, backing government forces fighting the Iran-allied Houthis. The Houthis have been subject to a separate arms embargo since 2015. Iran has repeatedly denied supplying weapons to the Houthis. "The Houthi forces continue to receive military support in the form of assault rifles, rocket-propelled grenade launchers, anti-tank guided missiles, as well as more sophisticated cruise missile systems," the report found. "Some of those weapons have technical characteristics similar to arms manufactured in Iran," it said.

UN investigators find Yemen's Houthis did not carry out Saudi oil attack

Yemen's Houthi movement said on Monday that Saudi Aramco's oil processing plants were still a target and could be attacked at "any moment", warning foreigners to leave the area.

Yemen's Houthi movement said on Monday that Saudi Aramco's oil processing plants were still a target and could be attacked at "any moment", warning foreigners to leave the area. The attacks on Aramco plants in Abqaiq and Khurais in the kingdom's eastern region were carried out by drones with normal and jet engines, Houthi military spokesman Yahya Sarea said in a tweet. Sarea said Saudi Arabia should stop its "aggression and blockade on Yemen". Oil prices surged nearly a fifth at one point following the strikes on two saudi plants, including the world's biggest petroleum processing facility in Abqaiq, which knocked out more than 5% of global oil supply. Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthi group claimed responsibility for the damage, but the US has pointed the finger directly at Iran.

Yemen's Houthis say Saudi's Aramco plants still a target: Report

Yemen's Houthi movement launched an attack on Abha civilian airport in southern Saudi Arabia on Sunday that killed one person and wounded 21 others, the Saudi-led coalition battling the group in Yemen said.

Houthi-run Al-Masirah TV earlier said that the Iran-aligned movement had targeted Abha and Jizan airports in the south of the kingdom with drones attacks.

"A terrorist attack by the Iran-backed Houthi militia targeted Abha airport, killing a Syrian resident and wounding 21 civilians," the coalition said in a statement carried on Saudi state television.

It did not confirm an attack on Jizan airport.

Saudi-owned Al Arabiya TV said a suspected drone hit the parking lot in Abha airport, which is about 200 km (125 miles) north of the Yemen border and serves domestic and regional routes.

Saudi state TV said flights had resumed at the airport, where operations were now running normally.

Earlier this month, a Houthi missile hit Abha airport in a strike that wounded 26 people.

The Western-backed Sunni Muslim coalition led by Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates intervened in Yemen in 2015 to try to restore the internationally recognised government that was ousted from power in Sanaa by the Houthis in late 2014.

The Iran-aligned Houthis have stepped up missile and drone attacks on Saudi cities in the past month amid rising tension between Iran and Gulf Arab states allied to the United States.

Riyadh has accused Iran of supplying the Houthis with the weapon used in the June 13 attack on Abha airport. Tehran and the Houthis deny coalition charges that Iran supplies the Houthis with missiles and drones.

"Destabilising activity"

The Saudi-led military coalition has targeted Houthi military sites around the capital Sanaa and Hodeidah port city.

Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Britain and the United States, in a joint statement published by the Saudi Embassy in Washington on Sunday, voiced concern about the escalation in Houthi attacks - without any mention of the latest drone launches.

The quartet also voiced concern about "dangers posed by Iranian destabilising activity" to peace and security both in Yemen and the broader region, citing attacks on oil tankers in Gulf waters.

Tehran has denied involvement in the tanker attacks, which no one has claimed responsibility for.

The escalation in violence threatens a U.N.-sponsored deal for a ceasefire and troop withdrawal from Hodeidah, which became the focus of the war last year when the coalition tried to seize the port, the Houthis' main supply line and a lifeline for millions of Yemenis.

The quartet's statement called on all Yemeni parties to engage constructively with U.N. special envoy Martin Griffiths to accelerate implementation of the agreement.

The deal, reached at peace talks in Sweden last December, had stalled for months before the Houthis unilaterally withdrew from three Red Sea ports in Hodeidah. The Saudi-led alliance has yet to verify the redeployment or meet it by pulling back pro-coalition troops massed on the outskirts of Hodeidah.

Yemen's Houthi movement launched an attack on Abha civilian airport in southern Saudi Arabia on Sunday that killed one person and wounded 21 others, the Saudi-led coalition battling the group in Yemen said.

Yemen's Houthi movement launched an attack on Abha civilian airport in southern Saudi Arabia on Sunday that killed one person and wounded 21 others, the Saudi-led coalition battling the group in Yemen said. Houthi-run Al-Masirah TV earlier said that the Iran-aligned movement had targeted Abha and Jizan airports in the south of the kingdom with drones attacks. "A terrorist attack by the Iran-backed Houthi militia targeted Abha airport, killing a Syrian resident and wounding 21 civilians," the coalition said in a statement carried on Saudi state television. It did not confirm an attack on Jizan airport. Saudi-owned Al Arabiya TV said a suspected drone hit the parking lot in Abha airport, which is about 200 km (125 miles) north of the Yemen border and serves domestic and regional routes. Saudi state TV said flights had resumed at the airport, where operations were now running normally. Earlier this month, a Houthi missile hit Abha airport in a strike that wounded 26 people. The Western-backed Sunni Muslim coalition led by Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates intervened in Yemen in 2015 to try to restore the internationally recognised government that was ousted from power in Sanaa by the Houthis in late 2014. The Iran-aligned Houthis have stepped up missile and drone attacks on Saudi cities in the past month amid rising tension between Iran and Gulf Arab states allied to the United States. Riyadh has accused Iran of supplying the Houthis with the weapon used in the June 13 attack on Abha airport. Tehran and the Houthis deny coalition charges that Iran supplies the Houthis with missiles and drones. "Destabilising activity" The Saudi-led military coalition has targeted Houthi military sites around the capital Sanaa and Hodeidah port city. Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Britain and the United States, in a joint statement published by the Saudi Embassy in Washington on Sunday, voiced concern about the escalation in Houthi attacks - without any mention of the latest drone launches. The quartet also voiced concern about "dangers posed by Iranian destabilising activity" to peace and security both in Yemen and the broader region, citing attacks on oil tankers in Gulf waters. Tehran has denied involvement in the tanker attacks, which no one has claimed responsibility for. The escalation in violence threatens a U.N.-sponsored deal for a ceasefire and troop withdrawal from Hodeidah, which became the focus of the war last year when the coalition tried to seize the port, the Houthis' main supply line and a lifeline for millions of Yemenis. The quartet's statement called on all Yemeni parties to engage constructively with U.N. special envoy Martin Griffiths to accelerate implementation of the agreement. The deal, reached at peace talks in Sweden last December, had stalled for months before the Houthis unilaterally withdrew from three Red Sea ports in Hodeidah. The Saudi-led alliance has yet to verify the redeployment or meet it by pulling back pro-coalition troops massed on the outskirts of Hodeidah.

Yemen's Houthis hit Saudi airport, killing one, wounding 21: Saudi-led coalition

Yemen's Houthi movement launched an attack on Abha civilian airport in southern Saudi Arabia on Sunday that killed one person and wounded seven others, the Saudi-led coalition battling the group in Yemen said.

Yemen's Houthis hit Saudi airport, killing one expat, says Saudi-led coalition

Redeployment took place in Hodeidah port as well as both Ras Isa and Saleef ports as part of the implementation of the first stage of the Sweden Agreement. Watch the full video to know more.

Yemen's Houthis start withdrawing from ports in Hodeidah

Saudi&nbsp;Arabia's air defence forces intercepted three ballistic missiles fired at Riyadh and other cities on Wednesday by Yemen's Houthis who have stepped up attacks recently, threatening to escalate a rivalry between&nbsp;Saudi&nbsp;Arabia and Iran.

Three rockets were shot down above the capital and the southern cities of Jizan and Najran, according to state media and the&nbsp;Saudi-led coalition fighting the Iran-aligned Houthis in Yemen.

The Houthis claimed to have targeted the defence ministry in Riyadh and a&nbsp;Saudi&nbsp;Aramco distribution facility in Najran.

There were no immediate reports of damage or casualties.

The attacks mark the fourth time in five months that missiles have flown over Riyadh, as the Houthis step up efforts to demonstrate they can reach the&nbsp;Saudi&nbsp;capital.

Last month, one man was killed in Riyadh by debris after the military shot down a flurry of missiles, the first casualty of the Yemen war in the&nbsp;Saudi&nbsp;capital.

Wednesday's missiles followed the downing of two Houthi drones earlier in the day in Jizan and the nearby&nbsp;Saudi&nbsp;city of Abha, the coalition said. The Houthis said they were targeting an Aramco facility in Jizan, but the company said its facilities there were operating "normally and safely".

The company is building a 400,000-barrel-per-day refinery in Jizan, part of a new economic city on the Red Sea, which is expected to become fully operational in 2019.

Aramco was not immediately available to comment on the missiles.

The Houthis say their missile attacks on the kingdom are in retaliation for air raids on Yemen by the Western-backed coalition.

Their news agency SABA said four people were killed, including a woman and a child, and 10 others wounded in two air strikes on Wednesday in the Razih district of western Saada province. There was no immediate comment from the coalition.

Saudi&nbsp;Arabia and an alliance of Muslim states intervened in Yemen's civil war in 2015 to try and push back the Houthis after they drove the internationally-recognised government into exile in Riyadh.

The coalition has launched thousands of air strikes in Yemen which have hit schools, markets and hospitals, killing hundreds of people - though it says it does not target civilians.

The United Nations says 10,000 people have died in the three-year-old war, and three out of four Yemenis — 22 million civilians — need relief aid.

The coalition accuses the Houthis of being armed and supported by Iran - charges the group and Tehran deny.

Arms monitor Conflict Armament Research says it has evidence that the drones used on Wednesday and other Houthi kit were made in Iran and was not of indigenous design and construction "in contrast to Houthi statements".

Three rockets were shot down above the capital and the southern cities of Jizan and Najran, according to state media and the Saudi-led coalition fighting the Iran-aligned Houthis in Yemen.

Saudi Arabia's air defence forces intercepted three ballistic missiles fired at Riyadh and other cities on Wednesday by Yemen's Houthis who have stepped up attacks recently, threatening to escalate a rivalry between Saudi Arabia and Iran. Three rockets were shot down above the capital and the southern cities of Jizan and Najran, according to state media and the Saudi-led coalition fighting the Iran-aligned Houthis in Yemen. The Houthis claimed to have targeted the defence ministry in Riyadh and a Saudi Aramco distribution facility in Najran. There were no immediate reports of damage or casualties. The attacks mark the fourth time in five months that missiles have flown over Riyadh, as the Houthis step up efforts to demonstrate they can reach the Saudi capital. Last month, one man was killed in Riyadh by debris after the military shot down a flurry of missiles, the first casualty of the Yemen war in the Saudi capital. Wednesday's missiles followed the downing of two Houthi drones earlier in the day in Jizan and the nearby Saudi city of Abha, the coalition said. The Houthis said they were targeting an Aramco facility in Jizan, but the company said its facilities there were operating "normally and safely". The company is building a 400,000-barrel-per-day refinery in Jizan, part of a new economic city on the Red Sea, which is expected to become fully operational in 2019. Aramco was not immediately available to comment on the missiles. The Houthis say their missile attacks on the kingdom are in retaliation for air raids on Yemen by the Western-backed coalition. Their news agency SABA said four people were killed, including a woman and a child, and 10 others wounded in two air strikes on Wednesday in the Razih district of western Saada province. There was no immediate comment from the coalition. Saudi Arabia and an alliance of Muslim states intervened in Yemen's civil war in 2015 to try and push back the Houthis after they drove the internationally-recognised government into exile in Riyadh. The coalition has launched thousands of air strikes in Yemen which have hit schools, markets and hospitals, killing hundreds of people - though it says it does not target civilians. The United Nations says 10,000 people have died in the three-year-old war, and three out of four Yemenis — 22 million civilians — need relief aid. The coalition accuses the Houthis of being armed and supported by Iran - charges the group and Tehran deny. Arms monitor Conflict Armament Research says it has evidence that the drones used on Wednesday and other Houthi kit were made in Iran and was not of indigenous design and construction "in contrast to Houthi statements".

Saudi Arabia says it shot down Houthi missiles over Riyadh and southern cities

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