Escalating Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia and Yemeni sites trigger regional security concerns

Beginning in late October 2026, Saudi Arabia experienced a wave of aerial attacks attributed to the Houthi movement. On October 21, a drone strike on a petroleum facility in Shaybah resulted in two deaths and two injuries, while a subsequent attack on King Fahd International Airport in Dammam killed two people and injured eight others. Following the deterioration of the security environment, the U.S. State Department ordered the evacuation of non-essential diplomatic staff and families from its embassy in Riyadh and several other Middle Eastern posts.

By October 24, violence intensified as the Saudi-led coalition reported intercepting multiple ballistic missiles and drones targeting Riyadh, Taif, Yanbu, and the Eastern Province. While the Saudi authorities successfully repelled most incoming projectiles, debris fell near Mecca and Medina, causing further alarm. Simultaneously, the Houthis launched strikes against Aden in southern Yemen, hitting military installations. Throughout the week, the Saudi-led coalition responded with air strikes in Yemen, reportedly resulting in civilian casualties. Regional officials, including Cypriot Foreign Minister Constantinos Kombos, have condemned these attacks, emphasizing the urgent need to maintain freedom of navigation in the Red Sea and the Strait of Hormuz.