**Houthis Report Air Strikes in Yemen Following Saudi Arabia's Warning of Firm Response**
*Published on September 15, 2026*
Yemen's Houthi rebels have accused Saudi Arabia of conducting extensive air strikes across various regions of Yemen in the wake of the Saudi-led coalition's commitment to respond "firmly" to recent missile and drone attacks that resulted in injuries to civilians within Saudi territory. The coalition, which supports Yemen's internationally recognized government, indicated that the attacks on the Saudi cities of Khamis Mushait, Abha, and Taif caused minor to moderate injuries to 13 civilians, along with damage to several homes and vehicles.
Major-General Turki al-Maliki, spokesperson for the coalition, stated that the Joint Forces Command would handle these attacks with a sense of responsibility and firmness to safeguard the sovereignty of the kingdom. This statement came shortly after the Houthis claimed that they had launched a series of missile and drone strikes targeting key military installations within Saudi Arabia.
In a statement released on Tuesday, the Houthis, also known as Ansar Allah, reported that Saudi air forces conducted 54 air raids across multiple Yemeni governorates, including Lahj, Taiz, al-Jawf, Marib, and Hajjah. They specifically mentioned that the air strikes targeted the government complex in the Khadir district of Taiz, resulting in injuries. Houthi-aligned media further alleged that the Saudi attacks led to the deaths of three civilians, including two children, and injured at least two others in the Dhubab and Maqbanah districts of Taiz province.
As of now, Saudi Arabia has not issued a public response to these claims, and the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs has not commented on the situation.
These developments follow a series of escalating military exchanges between the two sides. The Houthis had previously announced that they had fired a substantial number of missiles and drones at Saudi Arabia's King Khalid airbase in Khamis Mushait, aiming at hangars, radar systems, runways, and ammunition depots. They justified these actions as retaliation for what they described as relentless Saudi air raids across Yemen, which they claimed numbered around 300 over a five-day period.
The recent military exchanges coincide with the Houthis' significant territorial advances in western Yemen. The group has reportedly gained control over substantial portions of Yemen's Red Sea coast and has made strides towards areas near the strategically important Bab al-Mandeb strait. This strait is a crucial maritime passage for energy and commercial shipping, particularly in light of ongoing tensions related to the US-Iran conflict, which has disrupted activities in the nearby Strait of Hormuz.
In a counteraction, forces loyal to Yemen's internationally recognized government announced on Monday that they had made territorial gains in the contested Taiz province, reclaiming positions from the Houthis. They also reported successful strikes against Houthi fighters and equipment in Dhubab and al-Khokha along the Red Sea coast.
While both the Houthi and Yemeni government officials have made claims regarding battlefield successes, independent verification of these assertions remains elusive.
The ongoing conflict in Yemen, which has persisted for over a decade, saw a resurgence in hostilities in July when the Houthis declared a naval blockade on Saudi Arabia and began attacking vessels in the Red Sea. This escalation has raised concerns about the stability of a 2022 United Nations-brokered ceasefire that had previously curtailed large-scale violence in the region.
As the situation continues to evolve, the humanitarian impact of the conflict remains a pressing concern, with millions of Yemenis facing dire conditions exacerbated by the ongoing military confrontations and blockades.