Houthis claim major attack on Saudi air base

RIYADH: Yemen’s Houthi group on Monday claimed it launched a large-scale missile and drone assault on King Khalid Air Base in Saudi Arabia’s southern city of Khamis Mushait, further escalating tensions across the region.

Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree said dozens of ballistic missiles and drones were used in the operation. He claimed the strikes targeted aircraft hangars, radar systems, runways, ammunition depots and other military installations, causing significant damage and losses.

Saudi authorities have not confirmed the Houthi claims regarding damage or casualties at the air base. Saudi Civil Defence issued an alert in Khamis Mushait but later announced that the immediate danger had passed. Residents were advised to follow official safety instructions and avoid gathering or recording footage of the incident.

The Houthis said the attack was carried out in response to Saudi airstrikes in Yemen. The group claimed Saudi fighter jets had conducted more than 300 strikes across several Yemeni provinces over the past five days and warned that attacks inside Saudi Arabia would continue if military operations in Yemen persisted.

Meanwhile, Iran’s Persian Gulf Strait Authority released an updated list of 77 vessels it accused of violating its protocols for passage through the Strait of Hormuz. The authority warned that listed vessels could face restrictions, fines, detention or confiscation.

The development has added to concerns over international energy supplies as maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz and Bab el-Mandeb faces growing disruption. Preliminary tracking data showed commercial vessel transits through Hormuz had fallen to single-digit numbers per day over the weekend, below the recent 10-day average.

Iran also said a planned meeting in Oman between Tehran and Gulf Arab states had been cancelled at Saudi Arabia’s request. Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei said the meeting had been intended to discuss maritime security and an understanding reached between Iran and Oman concerning navigation through the Strait of Hormuz.

Baghaei said the Iran-Oman understanding had been finalised despite the cancellation and that Tehran would consult Oman on the next steps.

China meanwhile rejected reports that Chinese entities had provided Iran with satellite intelligence related to a US military base in Jordan before and after an Iranian missile attack. Beijing described the allegations as baseless.

China also urged restraint and dialogue following the latest Houthi attacks, expressing concern over civilian casualties and damage to energy infrastructure. South Korea similarly condemned the attacks and called for an immediate halt to assaults targeting civilians and economic facilities.

Iran separately dismissed reports of activity at its Pickaxe Mountain site after US President Donald Trump said Washington was monitoring the area.