Escalating Conflict: Houthis Launch Missiles at Saudi Arabia
WHO:
The Guardian - Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi rebels
The Guardian - Saudi Arabia
The Guardian - Turki al-Maliki, spokesperson for the Saudi-led coalition
Al Jazeera - Houthi-controlled foreign ministry
Al Jazeera - Yahya Saree, military spokesman for the Houthis
The Guardian - Donald Trump, President of the United States
WHAT:
The Guardian - Houthis claimed a missile attack on the southern Saudi city of Jizan.
The Guardian - Saudi Arabia struck Houthi military targets in response to attacks on its ships.
The Guardian - The Houthis announced a maritime blockade of Saudi Arabia and targeted several of its ships.
Al Jazeera - Saudi Arabia launched strikes on Houthi-held city of Hodeidah.
Al Jazeera - The Houthi blockade was framed as an “eye for an eye” response to a strike on Sanaa’s international airport.
The Guardian - Trump stated he had not decided on launching major strikes on Iran.
WHERE:
The Guardian - Southern Saudi city of Jizan
The Guardian - Yemen port city of Hodeida
The Guardian - Kamaran island
Al Jazeera - Hodeidah, Yemen
The Guardian - Red Sea
The Guardian - Gulf of Oman
The Guardian - Irbil, Iraq
The Guardian - Udairi, Kuwait
The Guardian - Bahrain
WHEN:
The Guardian - The missile attack on Jizan occurred on Saturday.
The Guardian - Saudi Arabia struck Houthi targets on Friday.
Al Jazeera - The Houthi blockade was announced on July 20.
Al Jazeera - The attack on Hodeidah occurred late on Friday.
WHY:
The Guardian - The Houthis accused Saudi Arabia of a “dangerous escalation” and vowed retaliation.
Al Jazeera - The Houthi foreign ministry warned that the attack on Hodeidah would spark further escalation in the conflict.
Al Jazeera - The Houthi blockade was a response to a strike on Sanaa’s international airport, which they blamed on Saudi Arabia.
HOW:
The Guardian - The Saudi-led coalition targeted Houthi military sites used to threaten Red Sea shipping.
The Guardian - The US military fired on a merchant vessel attempting to breach its blockade of Iran’s ports.
(UPDATED July 25, 2026 07:40 UTC)
Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi rebels have claimed responsibility for a missile attack on the southern Saudi city of Jizan, prompting Saudi Arabia to strike back at Houthi military targets in response to attacks on its ships. The Houthis have also announced a maritime blockade of Saudi Arabia, framing it as retaliation for a strike on Sanaa’s international airport, while Saudi Arabia has launched strikes on the Houthi-held city of Hodeidah. President Trump stated he has not yet decided on launching major strikes on Iran amid these escalating tensions in the region.