Saudi Arabia on Alert as Houthi Strikes Intensify Across Southern Regions
Saudi authorities temporarily issued and then lifted security warnings in several southern parts of the Kingdom on Monday as a renewed wave of Houthi missile and drone attacks heightened concerns over cross-border security.
The Saudi Civil Defense issued alerts in Najran, Jazan, Abha and Khamis Mushait, advising residents in the affected areas of possible danger. The warnings were later withdrawn after authorities declared the areas safe. Separate alerts issued again for Abha and Khamis Mushait were also subsequently lifted.
The latest developments follow a series of attacks by Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthi movement against targets in southern Saudi Arabia. The strikes have increasingly raised concerns about the safety of civilian areas as well as critical economic infrastructure.
In the most recent incident, a projectile struck Al-Tuwal governorate in Jazan on Saturday, injuring two people and damaging a mosque, buildings and vehicles, Saudi Civil Defense said. Several earlier attacks on Abha, Khamis Mushait, Jazan and Najranreportedly left 73 people injured, including women and children.
The security situation has also expanded beyond missile and drone attacks on the southern border. Saudi Arabia’s vital oil infrastructure has come under pressure after drones launched from Iraqi territory targeted the East-West oil pipeline last week, causing injuries and material damage in the Riyadh and Madinah regions.
The pipeline is a strategically important part of Saudi Arabia’s energy network. Stretching approximately 1,200 kilometres, it transports crude from the Kingdom’s eastern oil fields to Yanbu on the Red Sea, allowing Saudi exports to reach international markets without passing through the Strait of Hormuz. At the same time, regional attention is increasingly focused on the Bab Al-Mandab Strait, a major maritime passage connecting the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean.
The Houthis, who hold large areas of northern Yemen, have increased their military activity in the region. Their presence along Yemen’s western coastline and reported movements toward areas near Bab Al-Mandab have fuelled concerns that further escalation could threaten international shipping and global trade.
The developments have triggered widespread diplomatic reactions. The Gulf Cooperation Council, Muslim World League and Organisation of Islamic Cooperation have condemned attacks against Saudi territory and critical infrastructure. Qatar, Bahrain, Oman and Egypt have also expressed solidarity with Riyadh, warning that attacks on civilian and energy facilities could further destabilise the region.
Pakistan has also voiced support for Saudi Arabia. Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif condemned the Houthi attacks during a telephone conversation with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on Sunday. With simultaneous security concerns emerging from Yemen and Iraq, alongside growing uncertainty around the region’s strategic waterways, Saudi Arabia is now facing a broader security challenge that could have implications not only for the Kingdom but also for regional stability, energy supplies and international maritime trade.
