On July 25, 2026, Yemen's Houthi rebels announced that they fired missiles and drones at Saudi Arabia in retaliation for Saudi airstrikes on the city of Hodeida. Brig. Gen. Yahya Saree, the military spokesman for the Houthis, stated that the attacks targeted facilities in the Saudi cities of Yanbu and Jizan, which are associated with Aramco, the world's largest oil company. Saudi Arabia's civil defense reported multiple alerts in both cities but has not provided further comments.
The Houthis have threatened to close the Bab el-Mandeb Strait to shipping linked to Saudi Arabia, which could impact global shipping routes. This strait is crucial as it connects the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden, with approximately 12% of global trade passing through it.
In recent developments, the Houthis targeted two Saudi oil tankers in the Red Sea, prompting Saudi airstrikes on Hodeida, which reportedly hit the port and a telecommunications corporation, injuring two individuals. The Saudi-led coalition claimed it targeted military sites linked to threats against commercial vessels.
Iran's foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi, called for diplomatic solutions to the Yemen conflict, emphasizing the need to avoid military confrontations. Meanwhile, the U.S. Central Command did not report any new strikes in Iran, indicating a potential decrease in military actions after a period of heightened tensions following U.S. and Israeli attacks on Iranian interests.
The ongoing conflict has resulted in significant casualties, with reports indicating over 3,400 deaths in Iran and additional fatalities among U.S. service members and civilians in the region, including Lebanon and Israel.