Saudi Arabia says 73 wounded as Houthis attack civilian and energy sites - Al Jazeera

**Saudi Arabia reports 73 injuries after Houthi missile and drone strikes on civilian and energy facilities**

Riyadh’s Defence Ministry confirmed that on [date], a coordinated barrage of missiles and unmanned aerial vehicles launched by Yemen’s Houthi rebels struck several targets across the kingdom, including a civilian neighbourhood in the southern city of Najran and two critical energy installations near the Red Sea coast. The attacks left 73 people wounded, according to Saudi officials, though no fatalities were reported. The ministry said the strikes damaged a pipeline segment that supplies crude oil to export terminals and caused temporary disruption to power supplies in the affected districts. Saudi authorities have launched a joint investigation with the Ministry of Interior to identify the exact origins of the weaponry used.

The incident drew swift diplomatic reactions. New Delhi condemned the attacks, with a statement from the Indian Ministry of External Affairs calling the targeting of “civilian and energy infrastructure” “unacceptable” and urging all parties to respect international law. Within hours, Saudi security forces lifted the heightened alert level that had been imposed on Najran after the assault, signalling confidence that the immediate threat had been contained. A video circulated by Saudi state media showed Houthi drones striking a convoy of military‑grade weapons trucks, after which the Riyadh government vowed a proportional response, promising to “protect our sovereign territory and vital interests.”

The latest strike marks a further escalation in the Saudi‑Houthi conflict that has intensified since the rebels began targeting oil facilities in the Persian Gulf in 2022. Analysts warn that repeated attacks on energy infrastructure could destabilise global oil markets, already sensitive to supply uncertainties. While the United Nations continues to push for a cease‑fire and a political settlement in Yemen, both Riyadh and Tehran remain locked in a proxy confrontation that threatens to draw in regional allies. The coming weeks will likely see heightened diplomatic activity as Saudi Arabia balances military retaliation with efforts to safeguard its critical energy exports.