Houthi militants launch series of attacks on Saudi Arabian military and energy sites

In late October 2026, the Houthi movement intensified its military campaign against Saudi Arabia, launching a series of attacks on both energy infrastructure and military sites. The group claimed responsibility for a ballistic missile strike on the Ras Tanura oil refinery—the largest in the kingdom—stating that the attack triggered a fire at the facility. While Saudi authorities did not officially confirm the impact on the refinery, reports citing Bloomberg indicated that a fire near the terminal was brought under control.

Simultaneously, the Saudi-led coalition reported intercepting multiple projectiles across the country. In the capital, Riyadh, the coalition confirmed the interception of two missiles aimed at the Ministry of Defense, despite conflicting claims from the Houthis that the strike hit its intended target. Further attacks were reported in the south, where the Houthis alleged they targeted military transport aircraft at Najran airport and the Khamis Mushait airbase. The Houthis also claimed to have repelled a Saudi-supported advance near the Bab el-Mandeb strait. The Saudi-led coalition maintains that its air defenses successfully intercepted three ballistic missiles in the country's eastern province, though the operational status of all sites remains a subject of ongoing scrutiny.