• Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree says Saudi air strikes over the last 24 hours have targeted schools, bridges and roads in Taiz governorate.
• US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee says a ceasefire between the US and the Houthis remains intact.

US urges citizens to reconsider travel to Saudi Arabia

The United States has revised its travel advisory for Saudi Arabia to Level 3 – reconsider travel – due to the Saudi-Yemen conflict.

The US State Department’s international travel website on Wednesday warned of the risk of Iranian drone and missile targeting of American interests, armed conflict, terrorism, exit bans and local laws regarding social media activity.

It said some areas of the kingdom have increased risk.

A Level 4 “do not travel” advisory remains in effect for US citizens considering travelling to neighboring Yemen.

US embassy in Saudi Arabia warns citizens to stay away from border area with Yemen

The US embassy in Riyadh has warned American citizens to stay away from the Saudi Arabia-Yemen border.

“We advise our citizens against traveling to areas on the border with Yemen due to the risk of terrorism,” it said in a statement.

 

The Organization of Islamic Cooperation condemns Houthi attacks on Mecca, Medina region

The Organization of Islamic Cooperation has condemned “the heinous attacks launched by the Houthi group on the holy city of Mecca and the Medina region”, saying they were intended to “terrorise civilians, violate the sanctity of holy sites and mosques, and provoke the feelings of Muslims around the world”.

In a statement, the OIC General Secretariat said attacks on “holy sites, mosques and civilian objects constitute terrorism that contradicts Islamic values, international norms and laws”. It added that violating the sanctity of holy sites was “a transgression that cannot be accepted or tolerated” and required deterring those responsible.

The organization expressed “full solidarity” with Saudi Arabia and support for measures taken by the kingdom to protect holy sites and civilians, as well as its security and sovereignty.

Pakistan PM condemns attempted drone attack on Mecca

Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has condemned an attempted drone attack on the holy city of Mecca, after the Saudi-led coalition in Yemen said its air defenses destroyed a Houthi drone before it could enter the city’s airspace.

“I condemn in the strongest possible terms the dastardly and heinous attempted drone attack,” Sharif said in a post on X.

“The people of Pakistan are saddened and perturbed by this outrageous act. There can be no words strong enough to capture the depth of anguish and sorrow felt by us at this reprehensible and unforgivable act,” he said.

Sharif renewed calls for restraint across the region.

‘Nauseating lie’: Houthis refute claim that drone targeted Mecca

The Houthis have denied targeting the holy city of Mecca after Saudi Arabia said a drone was intercepted and destroyed.

Hizam al-Asad, a member of the Houthis’ political bureau, described Riyadh’s claim that a Houthi unmanned aerial vehicle attempted to target Mecca as a lie.

“Claims of targeting venerable Mecca are a nauseating lie that has been consumed before and no longer fools anyone,” al-Asad said in a post on X.

A Saudi coalition statement said at 21:50 GMT its air defence system intercepted and destroyed a drone heading towards the airspace of Mecca.

“This hostile and terrorist attempt is the second attempt to target Mecca following the first attempt via ballistic missile on July 27, 2017,” it said.

Malaysian PM voice support for Saudi Arabia after Riyadh says drone intercepted near Mecca

Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has said he has been following reports of a Houthi drone intercepted near Mecca, saying any attempt to threaten the safety of Islam’s holiest city could not be accepted “in any way whatsoever”.

Anwar said Malaysia supported Saudi Arabia’s government and welcomed what he called its swift action to protect residents and pilgrims in Mecca.

“This incident once again reminds us of the need to avoid any actions that could trigger escalating tensions in the region,” he said in a statement posted on X.

Anwar called for an immediate halt to all attacks on public areas, including any that could threaten holy sites, and urged all parties to pursue dialogue to de-escalate tensions without delay.

The Houthi deny targeting the holy site, calling the accusation a “nauseating lie”.

Kuwait condemns Houthi drone attack targeting Mecca

In a statement posted on X, Kuwait’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has strongly condemned a Houthi drone attack targeting Mecca, calling it a “cowardly and reprehensible act” that represents an “affront to Muslims everywhere”.

Kuwait declared full solidarity with Saudi Arabia, praised Saudi air defenses for intercepting the drone, and stressed that Saudi security is inseparable from the security of Kuwait and the wider Gulf states.

The Houthis have denied targeting the holy site.

Jordan says Houthi drone attack targeting Mecca represents ‘an unacceptable aggression’

Jordan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates Affairs has condemned the Houthis’ attempt to target Mecca with a drone in a statement posted on X.

It called the attack “a flagrant violation of the sovereignty of the sister Arab Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, a threat to its security and stability and the safety of its lands, a blatant breach of international law, and an unacceptable aggression that constitutes contempt for the status and sanctity of Mecca”.

The Houthis have denied targeting the holy site.

Yemen condemns Houthi attempt to target Mecca with drone

Yemen’s Foreign Ministry on Wednesday condemned an attempt by Houthi forces to target Mecca with a drone, which Saudi air defences say they intercepted and destroyed south of the city before it could enter the holy capital’s restricted airspace, according to an official statement .

The ministry called the attempt a “flagrant violation” of Saudi sovereignty and an assault on the sanctity of Islam’s holiest city, describing it as a continuation of what it called the Houthis’ hostile approach and previous attempts to target Mecca.

The Houthi deny targeting Mecca, calling the accusation a “nauseating lie”.

Yemen’s Foreign Ministry said the escalation, along with recent attacks on Saudi cities and infrastructure, highlights the threat posed by the group amid continued Iranian backing, which it said forms part of a broader effort to turn Yemen into a tool serving Tehran’s interests.

The ministry reaffirmed Yemen’s solidarity with Saudi Arabia and backed its right to take measures to protect its sovereignty and holy sites under international law, praising Saudi air defences for intercepting the drone.

It held the Houthis and Iran responsible for the attacks and called for a unified Arab, Islamic and international response, including cutting arms supplies to the group, enforcing UN Security Council resolutions, and supporting Yemen’s Saudi-backed government in restoring state authority nationwide.

Turkey, Lebanon condemn Houthi drone attack targeting Mecca

Turkey and Lebanon have condemned a drone attack by the Houthis targeting the holy city of Mecca, even as the Iran-allied Yemeni armed group has denied any involvement in the attack.

The Turkish Foreign Ministry reaffirmed its support for “the sovereignty, territorial integrity, and security of Saudi Arabia” in a statement, underscoring Ankara’s solidarity with Riyadh. It called for the “immediate cessation” of such attacks, warning they threaten regional stability and security, and urged all sides to refrain from actions that would further escalate tensions.

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun has also strongly condemned the attack, affirming Lebanon’s “full solidarity” with Saudi Arabia, upon his arrival to France earlier today.

Aoun called the attack a targeting not only of Saudi Arabia but of “the sanctity of holy sites that hold profound religious significance” for two billion Muslims worldwide. He commended the “vigilance” of Saudi armed forces in confronting the threat and averting harm to pilgrims and residents near the Two Holy Mosques.

The Houthi deny targeting Mecca, calling the accusation a “nauseating lie”.
 

Somalia condemns Houthi drone attack on Mecca

Somalia is the latest country to condemn a Houthi drone attack that Saudi Arabia says targeted the holy city of Mecca yesterday. The Iran-allied armed Yemeni group denied any role in such an attack.

In a statement, Somalia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said it “strongly condemns the attempted drone attack on Makkah and the recent attacks on civilian areas in Saudi Arabia”.

UAE says Houthi attempted attack on Mecca ‘a violation of Saudi sovereignty’

UAE’s Foreign Ministry has condemned the Houthis’ attempted drone attack on Mecca.

In a social media post, the foreign ministry said that the attempted attack constitutes a violation of Saudi Arabia’s sovereignty.

“We affirm the UAE’s full solidarity with Saudi Arabia and its support for all measures to safeguard its security and stability,” the statement read.

Saudi Arabia has said that a drone launched by the Houthis towards Mecca has been intercepted and destroyed. The Houthis have denied targeting the Islamic holy city.

Yemen’s Houthis say they shot down Saudi F-15 jet

Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Saree says a Saudi F-15 fighter was shot down over the Marib governorate in Yemen.

There was no immediate confirmation from Saudi authorities.

Houthis say ‘locally made surface-to-air missile’ brought down Saudi fighter jet

Houthis military spokesperson Yahya Saree claims Houthi forces downed a Saudi F-15 fighter jet over Yemeni territory.

“In the face of this brutal aggression against our country and people, the Yemeni armed forces – with God’s help and grace – were able to shoot down a Saudi F-15 fighter jet while it was conducting hostile operations in support of its military buildup in the airspace of Marib governorate,” he said in a statement.

“The downing was achieved using a locally manufactured surface-to-air missile.”

No comment was immediately available from the Saudi-led coalition.

Local sources told Al Jazeera that Houthi forces shot down the warplane near Mount Helan, northwest of Marib.

Houthis’ claimed downing of Saudi fighter could ’embolden’ group

For many years, Saudi fighter jets have struck Yemen and the Ansar Allah [Houthi] group at will.

But footage released by the Houthis claims to show the group shooting down a Saudi fighter jet earlier.

If the Houthis shot this fighter jet down, it could very well mean a change in the balance of power.

The one advantage that Saudi Arabia and the internationally recognized government in Yemen have had over the Houthis is the ability to launch air strikes with fighter jets whenever they want, wherever they want. Saudi Arabia depends heavily on its ability to carry out air strikes against Houthi positions in various provinces. If the Houthis are able to take this element from Saudi Arabia, it’s only going to embolden the group.

Houthis say Saudi coalition launched 450 air strikes over past week

After claiming to have shot down a Saudi jet, the Houthis say they also “engaged” two Saudi F-15s searching for the wreckage of the initially downed aircraft.

So far this week, Saudi jets have launched more than 450 strikes targeting Taiz, Lahj, al-Jawf, Hajjah, Marib, Saada and al-Bayda, military spokesman Yahya Saree said.

There have been civilian casualties, he added.

The group will “continue to protect our country’s airspace and sovereignty from any aggression or violation by all available means”, Saree said.

MSF warns conflict in Yemen risks pushing health system ‘past the point of recovery’

Escalating fighting in Yemen has triggered a sharp rise in casualties and mass displacement, piling further strain on a healthcare system already hollowed out by years of funding cuts, medical charity MSF said in a statement.

MSF warned that the crisis risks pushing the healthcare system “past the point of recovery” and called for sustained funding to protect women, children, and other vulnerable groups.

More than 60 people wounded in fighting on Yemen’s west coast have been admitted to al-Gamhouria Hospital in Aden since September 10, many needing surgery, blood transfusions and extended care, MSF said, adding that the surge has overwhelmed the hospital’s emergency room, wards, blood bank and staff.

The charity added that it has scaled up support to the emergency room, helping triage patients and supplying medicines and materials, while also assisting hospitals in Hodeidah and providing trauma kits to facilities in Taiz, al-Bayda and al-Jawf provinces.

The group has backed al-Gamhouria’s orthopedic unit since June, after ending a 12-year trauma program in Aden in 2025. In Mocha, a small MSF team is struggling to sustain maternity and paediatric care amid acute staff shortages.

Houthis not merely an extension of Tehran’s proxy network, advancing their own interests

The Houthis are operating with an increasingly defiant level of local autonomy and should not be seen merely as an extension of Tehran’s proxy network, Lorenzo Kamel, an analyst on Middle East affairs, said.

“They’re not merely an extension of Tehran’s proxy network, as has often been described, but are instead actively capitalizing on the regional chaos to advance their own domestic sovereignty and to force Saudi Arabia to give concessions,” he said.

The Saudi-led military intervention that has devastated Yemen in recent years was largely the result of “criminal policies of Saudi Arabia on the ground,” Kamel said.

More broadly, he argued that “historically speaking … the Saudi authorities don’t fight. They think that the US will step in and fight for them.”

He pointed to the 1916 Arab Revolt, when “the House of Saud remained allied with the British Empire rather than cooperating with other local factions,” as evidence of a longstanding pattern. “Outsourcing security, as the Saudi authorities did many times in the last few decades, will never bring a formal, lasting peace in the Gulf and the broader region,” he said, adding that at best it produces “an armed stability, or a militarized stabilization, that is something very different from peace.”

Djibouti calls for international help as thousands of Yemen refugees arrive

Djibouti’s Interior Minister Omar Abdi Said has called on the international community to urgently mobilize financial resources to help the country cope with the rising influx of refugees from Yemen.

He warned the number of people arriving could reach 10,000 in the coming weeks.

The tiny East African nation has received 2,512 people since September 10, said Abdi Said, emphasizing that the scale of the crisis and the speed at which it’s escalating have already surpassed its available resources.

“The Djiboutian government, in coordination with relevant stakeholders, has established safe, temporary reception centers for the arrivals but is facing mounting pressure because of dwindling international funding,” he said.

Washington is not willing to wade into the Yemen conflict at the moment

Lorenzo Kamel, a professor of international studies at the University of Turin, said the Houthis have a much greater hold over Saudi Arabia than in the previous years of the war, because the group controls the Bab al-Mandeb strait, and because the regional order is rapidly changing.

Iran’s leverage over the US, at least for now, is one example, he argued.

“Particularly, we’ve seen that at this stage, Iran is weaponizing global markets to disrupt US midterm elections. So they are pushing hard, particularly at this historical juncture, in order to have a shockwave to influence that situation on the ground,” he said.

The Houthis have continued “capitalizing” on the situation to advance their rule and to squeeze concessions from Riyadh, Kamel noted.

Meanwhile, Riyadh’s historical dependence on the US for defense means it is now “paying the price,” the professor said.

Washington is not willing to wade into the conflict at the moment, and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s visit to Egypt to presumably seek some backing may not amount to much, he added, as authorities in Cairo have long been allied to the US.

Yemeni government forces strike Houthi positions

Yemen’s coalition forces have targeted Houthi military formations in Dhubab, just north of the Bab al-Mandeb strait, according to the Information Ministry.

Undated videos posted on official social media sites purported to show the moment missiles struck buildings and other infrastructure in Houthi-administered areas.

Separately, Yemeni forces also targeted Houthi soldiers on the al-Kudhah front west of Taiz, our colleagues on the ground report.

Turkey FM says technical talks Mecca Agreement nears completion

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said that technical-level talks between Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan on the structure of the newly formed Mecca Alliance are nearing completion, with plans to expand its membership. Fidan said attacks on Saudi Arabia from any direction, including by Iraq-based actors, are unacceptable, and reaffirmed Turkish solidarity with Riyadh over threats from Yemen’s Houthis.

US officials reportedly met Houthis in Oman over the weekend

American officials met representatives of Yemen’s Houthis in Oman last weekend, ⁠unnamed sources told Reuters news agency.

The meeting – which hasn’t been made public – was held at the US embassy in Muscat, three sources said on ⁠condition of anonymity. Two sources said Oman’s government, a longtime regional mediator, helped organise the face-to-face gathering.

President Donald Trump said on Saturday ‌the Houthis phoned his administration asking the United States to keep out of the Yemen war. Vice President JD Vance said on Monday the US was in direct contact with the group, without giving details.

At the Muscat meeting, the Houthis told US officials they had no intention of attacking American vessels and are committed to the 2025 ceasefire with the US.

One of the sources, a Yemeni, said the militia also said it wouldn’t attack Israeli ships or any commercial vessels – except those belonging to Saudi Arabia.

Little sign of commercial shipping in Bab al-Mandeb

From Mohamed Taha Tawakol, Bab al-Mandeb

We are now in the heart of the Bab al-Mandeb Strait with Djibouti to our right and Yemen to our left. We are the first media team to reach this point where the Red Sea meets the Gulf of Aden.

For the past three hours we’ve been sailing along the Gulf of Aden. In Bab al-Mandeb there is barely any sign of any commercial shipping even though this is normally a peak period. We can only see Djiboutian naval patrols with military aircraft flying overhead.

This may be linked to Djibouti’s joint defence agreements with France and other countries. In practice, however, international coalition warships are not visibly present, apart from Djibouti’s own navy.

So we can report in this strait no breaches or security incidents have been recorded so far today.

Houthis confirm targeting oil facilities in Saudi Arabia’s Yanbu and Khamis Mushait airbase

Yemen’s Houthis have confirmed striking Saudi Arabia’s oil facilities located in the port city of Yanbu and the Khamis Mushait Airbase.

The group said the attacks were responses to a barrage of missiles launched by Saudi Arabia on Houthi positions this week.

“The first targeted the Aramco facility in Yanbu with dozens of ballistic missiles and drones, the strikes were precise and direct, thanks be to Allah, causing large fires and widespread destruction,” a statement from the Houthi’s military forces said.

“The second targeted the Khamis Mushait Air Base with a number of ballistic missiles, and the strikes were also precise, thanks be to Allah.”

Fighting between Houthis and government forces escalates in west Yemen

Military sources report intermittent clashes between Saudi-backed government forces and the Houthis on several fronts in Yemen coinciding with air strikes.

The fighting began in eastern al-Balaq where intense battles took place. The Houthis have launched an attack on government positions, but its soldiers managed to repel it.

Government forces said the Houthis aim to push further into the strategic Kahboub Mountains overlooking Bab al-Mandeb – an advance that would provide them with greater strategic depth, especially after their takeover of the key Mayyun Island in the heart of the strait and the Dhubab district south of the city of Mocha.

In the southern countryside of Taiz – currently the most volatile front – government troops also repelled a major Houthi attack.

This escalation is accompanied by a worsening humanitarian crisis. Waves of displaced people continue to flee to the countryside in Taiz and Lahj governorates.

The United Nations says the number of displaced people has reached about 125,000 since the beginning of the current round of escalation. It has warned of deteriorating humanitarian conditions, particularly as the fighting spreads across a wider geographical area.

Pro-government Yemeni militia claims heavy losses inflicted on Houthis in clashes near Bab al-Mandeb

Yemen’s pro-government Southern Giants Forces say that they are engaged in clashes with Houthi forces on the Kahboub front near the Bab al-Mandeb strait.

The government-aligned forces claim in a social media post that they have inflicted heavy personnel and equipment losses on the Houthi forces.

Djibouti says no disruptions in Bab al-Mandeb strait

Djiboutian Foreign Minister Abdoulkader Houssein Omar says that the country has not recorded any disruptions to navigation in the Bab al-Mandeb strait, days after Iran-allied Houthi fighters seized the entirety of Yemen’s Red Sea coastline.

“Djibouti continues to provide the necessary guarantees for the free and safe passage of ships and tankers through the Bab al-Mandeb strait,” Omar said.

Omar said that the East African nation has received 2,512 Yemeni refugees and estimates that the number could ultimately exceed 10,000.

Djibouti’s Interior Minister Omar Abdi Said called earlier on the international community to urgently mobilize resources to help the country cope with the rising influx of refugees displaced by the fighting in Yemen.

Qatar condemns ‘shameful’ Houthi attack on Mecca

Qatar’s Foreign Ministry says that Qatar condemns the Houthi drone attack targeting Mecca, which it says was a “shameful act of aggression”.

“The sanctity and security of the holy sites and the safety of those visiting them must not be targeted, threatened or used in conflicts,” the ministry said in a statement.

The Qatari foreign ministry said that Qatar supports Saudi Arabia’s “measures to protect its security, territory, Islamic holy sites and pilgrims”.

Saudi Arabia has said that a drone launched by the Houthis towards Mecca has been intercepted and destroyed. The Houthis denied targeting the Islamic holy site, describing the Saudi accusation as a “nauseating lie”.

US CENTCOM spokesman tells Al Jazeera US advisors supporting Saudi partners

CENTCOM spokesman Tim Hawkins said that the US is “closely monitoring” the conflict between Houthi forces and the Saudi-backed government in Yemen, with US advisors offering on-the-ground support to Saudi partners.

“The US military has a longstanding and strong… military relationship with our Saudi partners, and you see that manifesting today,” said Hawkins.

He said the US has advisors on the ground sharing information and providing planning support to their Saudi partners.

UNICEF says nine children killed, 104,000 people displaced in Yemen in two weeks

The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) says that at least nine children have been killed in Yemen in the last two weeks of fighting, while more than 104,000 people have been displaced, including 57,000 children.

“Renewed hostilities across Yemen are forcing families from their homes, killing and injuring children and disrupting access to health care and education, deepening an already severe humanitarian crisis,” UNICEF said in a statement.

The UN agency said that 26 UNICEF-supported health facilities have had services disrupted and 243 schools have closed or have suspended learning, affecting more than 137,000 students.

Yemeni government forces claim attacks on Houthis in Mocha, Marib

The Yemeni government’s army says that its air force targeted Houthi outposts and equipment around the southwestern port city of Mocha and on northern fronts.

In a separate social media post, the government’s army said earlier that it conducted drone attacks on Houthi forces in northern Marib governorate.

UN Secretary-General Guterres urges Middle East de-escalation

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has called for de-escalation and diplomacy in the Middle East as fighting ramps up in Yemen and between the Iran-allied Houthi group and Saudi Arabia.

“At this critical moment in the Middle East, de-escalation must be a priority,” Guterres said in a post on X.

Guterres called for the safety of humanitarian operations, the restoration of free navigation and an end to any action that harms civilians.

US reiterates support for Yemen’s government against ‘Houthi aggression’ 

The top US diplomat for Yemen, Neil Hop, told Yemen’s Foreign Minister Afrah al-Zouba that the US maintained its “strong support” for Yemen’s internationally recognized government, according to a readout of their phone call provided by the US embassy in Yemen.

“The United States of America stands in solidarity with the Yemen government and its people against Iran-backed Houthi aggression,” the embassy cited Hop as saying in a post on X, after days of battlefield advances swept pro-government fighters from the entirety of Yemen’s Red Sea coast.

Oil prices fall as Saudi Arabia offers more crude via Oman

Oil prices settled lower today after reports that Saudi Arabia was offering additional crude shipments through Oman eased concerns about Middle East supply disruptions, Reuters reports.

Brent crude futures fell $2.92, or 2.7 percent, to settle at $105.83 a barrel, while US West Texas Intermediate dropped $3.40, or 3.2 percent, to $102.43.

Sources familiar with the matter told Reuters that Saudi Arabia was offering additional crude to Asian refiners through ship-to-ship transfers off Oman’s Sohar port. The move follows drone attacks that damaged the kingdom’s East-West pipeline, which supplies the Red Sea export terminal at Yanbu.

“News that Saudi Arabia is exporting from the Gulf suggests concerns about a potential worsening of the disruptions are easing,” UBS analyst Giovanni Staunovo said.

Prices also came under pressure after US crude inventories fell by 640,000 barrels last week, less than the 1.6-million-barrel decline expected by analysts. US petrol and distillate inventories also increased.

Houthi claims downing a Saudi F-15

From Yousef Mawry, Sana'a

We know from the video that the Ansar Allah Houthis claim they were able to shoot down an F-15 fighter jet.

The big question is: How were they able to do it? What type of weapon did they use?

What I can tell you from speaking to experts is that the missile used to target the F-15 was an R-27T or R-73. These are typically air-to-air missiles.

However, the Houthis converted the weapon into a land-to-air missile. They repurposed it so that it could be launched from the ground instead of from the air.

The missile uses a passive infrared guidance system. It tracks and homes in on heat emitted by the target’s engine.

The repurposing of this missile is why they were successful in targeting the jet …

From the video we are seeing and reports from the Houthis, we know that they have an air defence system capable of shooting Saudi fighter jets out of the sky.