New Delhi: Yemen’s Houthi movement on Wednesday, September 16, claimed it carried out missile and drone attacks targeting a Saudi Aramco facility in Yanbu and the Khamis Mushait Air Base in Saudi Arabia.
Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Saree said the group launched dozens of ballistic missiles and drones at an Aramco facility in Yanbu. He claimed the attack caused large fires and widespread damage. A second operation reportedly targeted Khamis Mushait Air Base with several ballistic missiles.
Saudi authorities and Saudi Aramco have not confirmed the Houthi claims or reported damage at the facilities. Reuters reported that Houthi forces launched missiles and drones at Saudi targets as Saudi warplanes continued strikes in Yemen.
Houthis claim Saudi fighter jet was shot down
In the same statement, Saree claimed that Saudi aircraft had carried out more than 450 airstrikes across Yemen during the previous week.
He alleged that the strikes targeted areas including Taiz, Lahj, Al-Jawf, Hajjah, Marib, Saada and Al-Bayda, and claimed there had been civilian casualties.
Saree also claimed that Houthi forces had shot down a Saudi F-15 fighter jet over Marib using a locally manufactured missile. Saudi authorities have not confirmed the claim.
The Houthi spokesperson said the group would continue its military operations against Saudi targets until what it described as Saudi aggression and the blockade of Yemen ended.
US officials reportedly meet Houthis in Oman
The latest claims came amid reports of direct contact between US officials and Houthi representatives in Oman.
According to five sources cited by Reuters, US officials met Houthi representatives at the US Embassy in Muscat over the weekend, with Oman reportedly helping facilitate the meeting. The Houthi delegation included senior officials Mohammad Abdulsalam and Abdelmalik Al-Ajiri.
Sources told Reuters that the Houthis told US officials they did not intend to attack American vessels and remained committed to the 2025 ceasefire with Washington. They also reportedly indicated that they would not target Israeli ships or commercial vessels, except those belonging to Saudi Arabia.
The US State Department did not confirm the reported meeting but said protecting freedom of navigation in the Red Sea and preventing the spread of terrorism from the Middle East remained core US interests.
Fighting intensifies along Yemen’s Red Sea coast
The latest attacks came as the Houthis continued an advance along Yemen’s western coast, including strategic areas near the Bab al-Mandab Strait. Reuters reported that the group had made significant territorial gains in the region, increasing concerns over shipping and Saudi oil exports.
Saudi Arabia has also reported Houthi attacks in recent days. On Tuesday, the Saudi-led coalition said it intercepted and destroyed a Houthi drone south of Mecca before it entered restricted airspace. The Houthis denied targeting Mecca or religious sites.
The renewed fighting represents a sharp deterioration after a period of relative calm in the Yemen conflict. The escalation is also raising concerns over energy infrastructure and maritime trade routes in the Red Sea and the Bab al-Mandab Strait.
With conflicting claims from the two sides and no independent confirmation of several reported military incidents, the extent of damage from the latest alleged attacks remains unclear.
