Prince Abdul Aziz bin Salman, Saudi Arabia’s energy minister, declared that the kingdom would mount a “serious” response following a series of deadly Houthi attacks on Saudi airports and oil and gas facilities.
The minister addressed the WPC Energy Congress in Riyadh, stressing that the recent incidents demanded an equally grave reaction.
On Sunday, a Pakistani national was killed when a Houthi missile struck a terminal at King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh. The attack came a day after a second missile hit another terminal, killing 13 people and forcing its closure.
Houthis say they launched the assaults in retaliation for what they describe as “brutal Saudi aggression” against areas they control in western Yemen.
The Houthi‑run health ministry reported a child killed and six others injured in a Saudi air strike on a home in Sanaa on Sunday. The strike was part of the broader Saudi‑led coalition’s air campaign against Houthi forces along Yemen’s Red Sea coast.
Yemen’s civil war, which began in 2014 when the Houthis seized the capital, has escalated since 2015 after a Saudi‑led coalition intervened to restore the ousted government. A four‑year ceasefire collapsed in July when the Houthis imposed a maritime embargo and launched missile and drone attacks on Saudi targets.
The Houthis claim their actions target Saudi ports and airports, and they deny threatening international shipping through the Bab al‑Mandab Strait, despite recent seizures of strategic coastal areas.
Saudi Arabia’s reliance on the Red Sea for oil exports has amplified the impact of the conflict, especially as the Strait of Hormuz remains closed due to regional tensions.
Last week, the Yemeni government announced a new offensive to reclaim all Houthi‑held territory. Pro‑government forces report rapid gains around Bab al‑Mandab with intensive Saudi air support, though the Houthis deny any territorial losses.
As the situation unfolds, observers watch whether Saudi Arabia’s promised “serious” response will deter further Houthi attacks or spark a broader escalation.
