Houthis launch fresh strikes on Saudi Arabia, claim to have seized two islands in Red Sea

“The continuation of these deliberate and repeated attacks proves the terrorist Houthi Militia’s approach and extremist ideology of escalation and targeting civilian objects and civilians,” al-Maliki said in a statement posted on X.He said the coalition's Joint Forces Command would respond “responsibly and firmly” to protect Saudi Arabia's sovereignty, civilians and civilian infrastructure, in accordance with international law and the UN Charter's principle of self-defence.

The Houthis, meanwhile, claimed to have seized the islands of Greater Hanish and Lesser Hanish in the southern Red Sea. The group also claimed that Saudi aircraft had carried out 54 air strikes over the previous 24 hours.

The Houthis further said they had launched a large-scale ballistic missile and drone attack on King Khalid Air Base in Khamis Mushait, claiming the strikes resulted in “direct hits”. There was no immediate response from Saudi authorities to that claim.

Separately, Yemeni government forces said they had targeted Houthi equipment and fighters in the Dhubab and al-Khokha areas near the Bab al-Mandeb Strait on the Red Sea coast. The latest escalation comes amid continued fighting between Yemen's internationally recognised government forces and the Iran-aligned Houthi movement, with the Red Sea and surrounding areas remaining a key theatre in the conflict.