Houthis Announce Six Military Operations Against Saudi Arabia, Claim Strikes on Riyadh Airport and Oil Facilities
Yemen's Houthi movement has claimed responsibility for a series of missile and drone operations targeting Saudi Arabian infrastructure and military positions, including King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, Saudi Aramco facilities and a National Guard camp in the southern region of Najran. The group announced six military operations on Saturday, November 7, as tensions between the Houthis and Saudi Arabia continued to escalate.
Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Saree said the operations involved ballistic missiles, cruise missiles and unmanned aerial vehicles. In statements published on social media, he claimed that the attacks targeted important energy, aviation and military installations across Saudi Arabia.
However, Saudi authorities did not immediately confirm the reported strikes or provide details about possible damage. There was also no independent verification that the missiles and drones reached their intended targets.
The announcement comes amid renewed fighting between the Iran-aligned Houthi movement and Saudi-backed forces in Yemen, following the collapse of a period of relative calm that had been maintained under a United Nations-brokered truce.
Riyadh airport and Aramco facilities among claimed targets
According to Saree, one of the main targets was King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia's capital and a major international aviation hub.
The Houthis also claimed to have attacked oil installations associated with Saudi Aramco in Riyadh and the Khurais area. Their statement referred to oil storage facilities, an Aramco distillation tower and other energy infrastructure.
Another location mentioned was Pumping Station No. 8 in Dawadmi, which is associated with Saudi Arabia's East-West oil transportation network.
The East-West pipeline is strategically important because it allows Saudi Arabia to transport crude oil from eastern production areas towards export terminals on the Red Sea. This route provides an alternative to shipping all crude through the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz.
Any confirmed disruption to major oil infrastructure could have implications for energy transportation and international markets. However, there was no verified information indicating that the latest Houthi-claimed operations had disrupted oil production, damaged pipelines or affected exports.
Saudi Aramco had not immediately announced any operational interruption connected to the claims.
Saudi National Guard camp in Najran also targeted
The Houthi spokesperson also identified a National Guard camp in Najran, a region in southwestern Saudi Arabia close to the Yemeni border.
The group claimed that Saudi military personnel were targeted during the operations and reported casualties among Saudi troops. These claims had not been independently confirmed.
Saudi Civil Defence issued a warning about a potential threat in Najran on Saturday. Approximately ten minutes later, the agency issued another update indicating that the danger had passed.
The warning attracted attention because of the region's proximity to Yemen and its strategic importance in the continuing cross-border conflict.
The Houthis also claimed attacks against military positions in Al-Jawf and Yemen's Marib governorate, areas that have experienced prolonged fighting between Houthi forces and troops aligned with Yemen's internationally recognised government.
The full details of the six operations, including the number of weapons launched and the extent of any military damage, remained unclear.
Houthis describe attacks as retaliation
Saree presented the operations as retaliation for Saudi military actions inside Yemen.
The Houthi movement accused Saudi Arabia of carrying out airstrikes that allegedly killed and injured civilians at Al-Hadara Market in the Al-Wazi'iyah district of Taiz province on Friday.
The group also referred to reported airstrikes on residential areas near Yemen's capital, Sanaa, which it blamed on Saudi Arabia.
A separate statement from the Houthi-run Health Ministry reported that at least 25 people were killed and 30 injured in attacks on homes in the area. Most of the reported victims were women and children.
The casualty figures and responsibility for the strikes could not be independently established. Saudi Arabia had not immediately confirmed carrying out the attacks.
The competing accusations illustrate how the conflict is increasingly involving attacks on military positions, energy infrastructure and locations close to civilian populations.
Saudi Arabia faces renewed security concerns
The latest Houthi announcement follows several weeks of increasing security concerns across Saudi Arabia.
The Saudi-led coalition has previously reported intercepting missiles directed towards Riyadh. On November 7, coalition officials also reported intercepting a missile heading towards Riyadh province.
Earlier, Saudi authorities issued security alerts in several locations, including areas near the Yemeni border. The warnings reflected concerns about possible missile and drone activity.
The Houthis have repeatedly threatened Saudi infrastructure and military positions during periods of heightened conflict. Their attacks have previously included airports, oil installations and other strategic locations.
The current escalation is particularly significant because Saudi Arabia is one of the world's largest oil exporters. Its energy infrastructure plays an important role in global petroleum supplies.
Although the latest claims have not been independently verified, any confirmed damage to major oil facilities or transportation networks could increase concerns among energy traders and international businesses.
Background: Saudi Arabia and the Houthi conflict
Yemen's conflict intensified in 2014 when Houthi fighters seized the capital, Sanaa, and expanded their control across large parts of the country.
Saudi Arabia intervened militarily in 2015 at the head of a coalition supporting Yemen's internationally recognised government.
The conflict continued for years, producing widespread displacement, destruction of infrastructure and a severe humanitarian crisis.
A United Nations-brokered truce in 2022 substantially reduced large-scale fighting and cross-border attacks. However, it did not resolve the political differences between the opposing sides or establish a permanent peace agreement.
The renewed military confrontation in 2026 has weakened the remaining hopes for a lasting settlement. Missile and drone operations, airstrikes and clashes involving forces on both sides have increased regional security concerns.
The conflict also has wider international implications because of Yemen's location near the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, a strategically important shipping route connecting the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden.
Oil markets and regional stability under watch
The latest Houthi claims have placed Saudi Arabia's aviation and energy infrastructure under renewed attention.
King Khalid International Airport is an important gateway for international travel, while Aramco's facilities are central to the kingdom's petroleum industry. Any confirmed attack affecting these installations could have consequences beyond Saudi Arabia.
Energy markets are particularly sensitive to security developments involving major oil-producing countries and important transportation routes.
Nevertheless, there is currently insufficient verified information to establish whether the latest operations caused physical damage, interrupted flights or affected oil supplies.
For now, the situation remains uncertain as Saudi authorities have yet to provide a detailed response to the Houthi announcement.
The coming days will be important in determining whether the claimed attacks resulted in actual damage and whether the latest escalation leads to further military action between the two sides.
The Houthi movement has presented the operations as retaliation for Saudi strikes in Yemen, while the reported attacks remain unconfirmed by independent sources. The developments underline the fragile security situation in the region and the continuing risk of a wider confrontation.