Saudi Arabia reported intercepting multiple Houthi ballistic missiles on Thursday, prompting France to reaffirm its commitment to defending the critical Red Sea oil terminal at Yanbu. The intercepted projectiles were aimed at the western port city of Yanbu and the mountainous region of Taif, following civil defense alerts that also covered the holy city of Mecca.
Kingdom-led coalition spokesman Turki al-Maliki condemned the strikes, stating that “escalations and violations by the terrorist Houthi militia will be dealt with firmly.” The alerts issued by Saudi Civil Defence were lifted within minutes, a common pattern in recent weeks where warnings typically precede Houthi offensives.
In response to the mounting pressure on Saudi infrastructure, French President Emmanuel Macron announced that Paris plans to dispatch military assets, including soldiers, radars, and defense systems, to shield Yanbu. The port serves as Saudi Arabia’s primary crude export hub on the Red Sea and is linked to Gulf Coast production regions via the Petroline pipeline. It also hosts significant refining and storage facilities, offering Riyadh an alternative route for energy exports to European markets.
The diplomatic tension coincides with statements from Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, who told Fox News that Tehran does not direct Houthi battle plans. “The Houthis are responsible for their own actions. They don’t take directions from us,” Pezeshkian said, asserting that the group acts based on the circumstances imposed upon them.
Despite these denials, the Houthis have intensified their campaign since July, when a fragile truce collapsed after the group permitted an Iranian plane to land in Sanaa. Since then, the militants have imposed a naval blockade on Saudi Arabia, seizing territory along Yemen’s Red Sea coast and threatening vital waterways used by the Gulf’s energy exports.
Violence has also surged on the ground in Yemen. According to an AFP tally of seven sources, at least 150 combatants from both Houthi forces and the Riyadh-backed government were killed in the past 24 hours. Clashes over strategic hilltops overlooking the Bab al-Mandab strait have been particularly fierce, with 98 government forces reported dead, mostly from missile and drone attacks.
The Houthi movement claimed responsibility for a complex barrage targeting command centers and weapons depots in southern Saudi Arabia, alleging casualties among Yemeni, Sudanese, and Saudi personnel. The group also stated it attacked Aramco infrastructure in Yanbu and an undisclosed site in Riyadh. Meanwhile, internal clashes in the Kahboub Mountains and between the Lahj and Taiz regions have resulted in further casualties, as the Houthis seek to consolidate control over highlands protecting their newly seized territories.
The Petroline pipeline is Saudi Arabia’s key alternative export route. Protecting it makes sense, but how long can they sustain this military buildup?
Interesting how Iran denies directing the Houthis while their plane lands in Sanaa. The disconnect between words and actions is glaring.
France stepping up defense of Yanbu is a major escalation. I hope this doesn’t drag Europe further into regional conflicts.