The conflict between Yemen's Houthi militants and Saudi Arabia escalated sharply on July 25, with both sides completing a full cycle of mutual attacks within a single day, pushing the situation toward a potential resurgence of the decade-long Yemeni civil war.
According to a report from China Central Television (CCTV) on July 25, the Houthis issued a statement announcing two rounds of strikes on Saudi Aramco facilities along the Red Sea coast. The first wave targeted the city of Jizan, while the second struck Yanbu, using ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, and drones. The group claimed the strikes were "precise and direct hits." In response, as reported by Xinhua News Agency, Saudi Arabia launched airstrikes against multiple Houthi positions in the Marib and Al-Jawf governorates, resulting in the deaths of several militants, including missile technicians.
Analysts believe the core risk of this escalation lies in the strategic importance of Yanbu. With the Strait of Hormuz under blockade due to Iran's conflict with the United States and Israel, the Red Sea has become a vital lifeline for Saudi exports. The kingdom has been forced to redirect its crude oil exports to Yanbu, relying heavily on an east-west pipeline. Any substantial damage to Yanbu would directly impact Saudi Arabia's crude oil export capacity, posing a major threat to global energy markets.
Houthi's Two Waves of Attacks: Jizan and Yanbu Hit on the Same Day
According to CCTV, the Houthis characterized the operation as retaliation for Saudi airstrikes on Hodeidah city, Hodeidah port, and Kamaran Island. The first wave used "dozens" of ballistic missiles and drones to strike "sensitive targets" of Saudi Aramco in Jizan, which houses a major oil refinery. The second wave combined ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, and drones to target "sensitive targets" of Saudi Aramco in Yanbu, a key crude oil export terminal for Saudi Arabia.
Houthi military spokesman Yahya Sare'e warned in a statement that the group would "not hesitate to expand operations and escalate measures based on developments in the coming hours and days," and reiterated that the maritime blockade against Saudi Arabia would continue.
According to media reports, Greek security officials stated that Saudi air defense systems intercepted two ballistic missiles fired from Yemen toward Yanbu. A U.S.-made Patriot missile system operated by Greece also shot down a drone from Yemen. Greece has deployed this air defense system in Saudi Arabia since 2021 under a bilateral agreement, specifically to protect the kingdom's critical energy infrastructure.
Saudi Airstrikes in Response: Multiple Positions Hit in Marib and Al-Jawf
According to Xinhua News Agency, Yemen's state television reported that the Saudi-led coalition launched airstrikes on several military targets in Houthi-controlled northern regions, including "missile launch platforms, rocket launcher positions, and weapons depots" in the Marib and Al-Jawf governorates.
An unnamed local military official confirmed the strikes to Xinhua, and local residents reported continuous explosions in the targeted areas. The report stated that the attacks resulted in "the deaths of several Houthi militants, including missile technicians," but no independent assessment of the damage has been made so far.
Major General Turki al-Maliki, spokesman for the Saudi-led coalition, stated that the airstrikes targeted "legitimate military objectives used by the Houthi terrorist militia to threaten commercial vessels in the Red Sea," emphasizing that the action was "firm, decisive, and proportionate." He also noted that the Houthi-controlled port of Hodeidah was not included in the strikes, and all Yemeni ports remain open to commercial shipping.
Notably, analysts believe this round of airstrikes marks the first time the Saudi-led coalition has publicly acknowledged carrying out airstrikes since a ceasefire agreement was reached four years ago, signaling a break in the previously unspoken boundaries.
Saudi Arabia intervened in the Yemeni civil war in 2015, leading an Arab coalition against the Houthis. A ceasefire was reached in April 2022, but the Hamas attack on Israel in 2023 and the subsequent Houthi attacks on Red Sea shipping have stalled diplomatic efforts for lasting peace.
Yanbu's Strategic Weight: An Energy Chokepoint Under the Strait of Hormuz Blockade
The core sensitivity of this conflict lies in Yanbu's unique position within the current geopolitical landscape. With the Strait of Hormuz blocked due to Iran's war with the United States and Israel, the Red Sea has become a critical channel for Saudi exports and trade. Saudi Arabia has been forced to redirect its oil exports to Yanbu, making its crude oil transport heavily dependent on an east-west pipeline.
This means Yanbu is no longer just an ordinary export port but rather Saudi Arabia's sole alternative export route for maintaining crude oil exports when the Hormuz passage is blocked. Any substantial damage to Yanbu would leave the kingdom facing a near-total blockage of its crude oil export channels, with direct consequences for the global energy market.
This conflict is not an isolated incident but rather a concentrated eruption of a series of recent tensions. Earlier this week, CCTV reported that the Houthis announced a maritime blockade against Saudi Arabia and attacked two Saudi oil tankers in the Red Sea. Saudi Arabia's state news agency reported that a Saudi vessel named NCC MASA was attacked in the Red Sea on July 25, sustaining minor damage to its hull, but the crew was safe, and the ship continued to its destination after inspection.
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