Houthis Launch Missiles and Drones at Saudi Oil Sites in New Attack

Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthis have released new military footage showing ballistic missile and drone launches directed at Saudi oil infrastructure and weapons depots. The video includes scenes of missile launches, drone flights, explosions, and rising smoke plumes, which the group claims were successful strikes. The release comes as part of a broader escalation by the Houthis against Saudi-aligned targets. On August 9, 2026, the group also targeted Saudi-backed forces and the government-held Mocha port in Yemen, killing at least eight people.

In addition to the attacks inside Yemen, the Houthis claimed a drone strike on Saudi Aramco’s Jazan refinery that caused a contained fire. The footage and claims highlight a renewed wave of Houthi aggression amid Yemen’s long-running civil war. These actions once again demonstrate the group’s willingness to threaten critical energy infrastructure and regional stability. The strikes fit a familiar pattern of Iranian proxy forces using missiles and drones to project power beyond Yemen’s borders.

The latest attacks raise questions about the effectiveness of Saudi Arabia’s recent defense arrangements with Turkey and Pakistan. Despite those pacts, the Houthis continue to launch projectiles at Saudi targets with apparent confidence. For Israel and its allies, the incidents serve as another reminder that Iranian-backed groups remain a persistent threat to the region’s security and energy supplies. A strong deterrent posture, consistent with the approach favored by the Trump administration, is essential to counter such aggression.

Allowing Iranian proxies like the Houthis to operate with impunity only encourages further escalation. The United States and its partners must continue to prioritize the degradation of these networks and the defense of critical infrastructure. The latest Houthi video and claimed strikes make clear that the threat has not diminished and requires sustained, forceful attention.