Renewed hostilities in Yemen and the Red Sea have intensified, with Houthi rebels targeting Saudi oil facilities while Iran reports stopping ships in the Strait of Hormuz.
Key facts
- •Houthi rebels claimed responsibility for targeting Aramco facilities in Jizan and Yanbu using drones and missiles.
- •Saudi Civil Defense reported sirens in Yanbu and Jizan, though no official reports of damage were confirmed.
- •The Saudi-led coalition stated its strikes in Yemen targeted military sites and that all Yemeni ports remain open for navigation.
- •Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi held discussions with officials from China and Russia regarding the ongoing regional tensions.
- •The U.S. military did not announce new strikes on Iran on Saturday, breaking a 13-day streak of nightly operations.
Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi rebels launched missile and drone attacks on Saudi Arabian oil facilities in Jizan and Yanbu on Saturday, July 25, 2026. This followed retaliatory airstrikes by the Saudi-led coalition on Houthi military sites in Hodeidah, Marib, and al-Jawf. The exchange marks a significant escalation in the regional conflict, occurring alongside ongoing tensions between the United States and Iran.
By the numbers
Maritime Blockades and Strait Disruptions
The conflict has expanded to critical maritime corridors, with the Houthis declaring a blockade against Saudi shipping in the Red Sea. In response to attacks on two Saudi oil tankers on July 23, the Saudi-led coalition struck Houthi military targets in Hodeidah. Simultaneously, Iran’s Revolutionary Guards reported stopping four vessels in the Strait of Hormuz over the past 24 hours, claiming the ships were using illegal routes and altered course after warning shots were fired.
Diplomatic Stance and Military Activity
While the U.S. military paused its nightly strikes on Iran on Saturday after 13 consecutive days of operations, President Donald Trump stated he is not in a hurry to end the war. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi denied that Iran is responsible for the situation in Yemen, calling for dialogue and asserting that there is no military solution to regional disputes. Meanwhile, Iran criticized the European Union for imposing new sanctions on Iranian officials, labeling the move as hypocritical.
Timeline
- July 23, 2026Houthi rebels attacked two Saudi oil tankers in the Red Sea.
- July 24, 2026The Saudi-led coalition struck Houthi military sites in Hodeidah.
- July 25, 2026Houthi rebels launched missile and drone attacks on Saudi oil facilities in Jizan and Yanbu.
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This article was independently rewritten by ManyPress editorial AI from reporting originally published by The Hindu.
