Yemen-Red Sea (Houthis)
The Saudi-led coalition said on Nov. 11 that its air defenses destroyed three Houthi cruise missiles aimed at the Riyadh region before they reached their targets, spokesman Turki al-Maliki said. Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree claimed the group targeted Riyadh's King Khalid International Airport with three cruise missiles, a claim not independently confirmed. It was the second straight day of interceptions over Riyadh after a ballistic missile and a cruise missile were downed on Nov. 10. A Houthi attack on Nov. 8 damaged an Aramco administrative building in Riyadh's financial district. The Houthis denied the coalition's claim that a drone was intercepted over Mecca, saying they target oil facilities and military bases. Coalition jets had struck facilities in Sanaa where the Houthis assemble ballistic missiles and produce solid fuel a day earlier. The Saudi-Houthi fighting reignited in July.
Background
Yemen has been in civil war since the Houthis seized the capital Sanaa in 2014, fighting the internationally recognized government, which is backed by a Saudi-led coalition. After the Gaza war began in October 2023, the Houthis, citing support for Palestinians, began attacking shipping in the Red Sea, starting with vessels tied to Israel. Tensions rose sharply after a ship was seized in November 2023, and from January 2024 the US and UK struck Houthi targets. The attacks have significantly disrupted maritime trade through the Suez route.
Key issues
- Houthi attacks on Red Sea shipping and freedom of navigation
- US, UK and allied military response to the Houthis
- Link between the Gaza war and Houthi attacks
- Political settlement of Yemen's civil war
Key milestones
| 2014-09 | Houthis seize Sanaa |
|---|---|
| 2015-03 | Saudi-led coalition intervenes in Yemen's war |
| 2023-10 | Houthi attacks on Red Sea shipping begin in earnest after the Gaza war starts |
| 2023-11 | Houthis seize a commercial vessel and its crew |
| 2024-01 | US and UK carry out first strikes on Houthi targets (Jan 11-12) |
Parties
Yemeni government forces and Saudi-led coalition vs Houthis
Countries involved
Key events in the last 30 days
| 10-27 | War & ConflictSaudi-led coalition strikes Houthi missile facilities |
|---|---|
| 10-26 | War & ConflictHouthi missiles fired towards Mecca and Medina; Saudi Arabia intercepts |
| 10-24 | War & ConflictHouthis fire ballistic missile at Riyadh in early hours of 23 October; intercepted |
| 10-23 | Geopolitics & DiplomacyHouthis attack King Fahd airport in Dammam |
| 10-22 | Geopolitics & DiplomacyHouthis hit government forces' training camp in Shabwa, killing at least 53 |
| 10-17 | War & ConflictCoalition intercepts Houthi missile bound for Yanbu and strikes Houthi strongholds in Taiz and Marib |
| 10-15 | War & ConflictHouthis fire missiles at Riyadh again; Aramco building in Dhahran hit |
| 10-14 | War & ConflictHouthis warn of retaliation against Riyadh and Dammam; explosions reported in Sanaa |
| 10-13 | Geopolitics & DiplomacyRiyadh airport closed until at least 17 October; death toll reported as 12-13 |
Intensity history
| 2026-08-15 | All-out war |
|---|---|
| 2026-08-14 | Medium intensity |
Key relations
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Tension🇾🇪 Yemen → 🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia
Houthi missiles at Riyadh intercepted two days running
The Saudi-led coalition intercepted three Houthi cruise missiles aimed at Riyadh on Nov. 11. The Houthis claimed strikes on Nov. 10 on targets including King Khalid airport and an Aramco facility in Abqaiq.
Other issues in these countries
- Geopolitics & Diplomacy🇾🇪 Yemen
Overnight strikes on Sanaa kill 1, wound 9; Houthis blame Saudi Arabia
- Geopolitics & Diplomacy🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia
Saudi air defences intercept Houthi cruise missiles aimed at Riyadh for second straight day; Aramco building in Riyadh damaged Nov. 8
- Finance & Economy🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia
Brent rebounds 1.4% to $92.76 from two-month low
- Tech & Energy🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia
IEA stock release reaches about 330 million barrels (16 October), alongside further 100 million from G7