Houthis strike Saudi targets anew as talks over Strait of Hormuz stall - Reuters

**Houthis launch fresh strikes on Saudi Arabia, injuring civilians and hitting a military airbase** The Yemen‑based Houthi movement carried out a new wave of missile and drone attacks across Saudi Arabia on Saturday, targeting both civilian infrastructure and a Saudi Air Force base in the southern province of Asir. Saudi state media reported that 13 civilians were wounded in the raids, which also triggered emergency alerts in several major cities, including Riyadh, Jeddah and Mecca. The coalition’s air defense systems intercepted a number of projectiles, but the Houthi claim of striking a key military installation underscores their growing capability to reach deep‑inside Saudi territory.

**Diplomatic talks over the Strait of Hormuz stall as regional actors reassess their positions** The renewed aggression comes as multilateral negotiations aimed at defusing tensions in the strategic Strait of Hormuz have hit an impasse. Saudi officials have accused Iran of covertly supporting the Houthi campaign, while Tehran denies involvement. In a parallel development, Pakistan, long viewed as a quiet diplomatic bridge between Riyadh and Tehran, appears to be recalibrating its stance after earlier backing for a Saudi‑led effort to curb Houthi attacks; recent statements from Islamabad suggest a more cautious approach, reflecting concerns over escalating hostilities that could disrupt regional trade routes.

**Implications for regional security and the global oil market** The attacks raise fresh alarms about the vulnerability of Saudi critical infrastructure and the potential for wider disruption of oil shipments that pass through the Hormuz chokepoint. Riyadh has vowed to intensify its defensive posture and to continue coalition operations against Houthi positions in Yemen, while also urging the international community to press for a diplomatic resolution. Analysts warn that prolonged stalemate in the Hormuz talks could push oil prices higher and prompt further militarisation of the Red Sea and Gulf corridors, heightening the risk of a broader confrontation.