Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi movement launched dozens of drones and missiles at four cities in south-western Saudi Arabia, striking energy facilities and other civilian infrastructure and injuring 73 people. The Saudi-led coalition condemned the assault as a "dangerous escalation" and vowed to respond, marking a sharp deterioration of a four-year informal ceasefire that has been unravelling since July, with implications for regional stability and global oil supplies given the Red Sea's role in shipping.

The attacks hit Abha, Khamis Mushait, Jazan and Najran, sparking fires at oil facilities that forced a temporary halt to some operations, according to Saudi military and energy officials. The Houthis said the strikes were retaliation for Saudi air raids on Houthi-held areas, including a bombing of a prison in al-Hazm that reportedly killed at least 11 people, with 20 inmates still missing. Houthi spokesman Yahya Sarea claimed Saudi forces had carried out more than 120 air strikes in recent days, while heavy fighting for control of the strategically vital Bab al-Mandab Strait has reportedly killed over 300 people and displaced 18,500 since last Thursday.