...a kingdom taking up the bulk of the Arabian peninsula, largely made up of sand and oil rigs. Its primary economic activity involves exporting oil and soaking Islamic rubes on the annual haj pilgrimage. The country supports a large number of princes in whatcha might call princely splendor. Formerly dictatorial and steeped in Olde Tyme Religion, deferring to Salafist holy men on all issues, it has now done a 180 and is making a serious effort to modernize, so as not to be left in the sand by its Gulf Arab neighbors. The holy men have been shoved to the background and the nation is now still dictatorial but somewhat rational. That doesn't make them trustworthy, but it's a start...will continue.
Yemen’s Armed Forces issued the following statement:
"In its continued siege of the Yemeni people and in yet another violation of the illusory sovereignty of the Republic of Yemen, the Saudi enemy regime launched a series of unjust and criminal Arclight airstrike
...
s last night on the city and port of Hodeidah and Kamaran Island.
These airstrikes resulted in material and incorporeal damage, and air defenses engaged with a formation of enemy aircraft after they violated Yemeni airspace, preventing them from committing further crimes against this great nation.
In response to this blatant and criminal aggression, the Yemeni Armed Forces carried out two qualitative military operations.
The first targeted sensitive Aramco-affiliated facilities in Jizan with dozens of ballistic missiles and drones.
And the second operation targeted sensitive Aramco-affiliated facilities in Yanbu with a number of ballistic and cruise missiles and drones.
Both operations successfully achieved their objectives, thanks to Allah Almighty, with accurate and direct strikes.
This escalation of aggression confirms the Saudi enemy’s determination to continue its siege of our people and its violation of our country’s illusory sovereignty.
This is unacceptable, and our free, faithful, and valiant people will confront it with unwavering resolve and strength.
We in the Yemeni Armed Forces, relying on Allah, are committed to fulfilling our duty of honorable and responsible defense of our beloved country and our noble people—the people of faith and wisdom, the people of Islam and Arabism.
This criminal enemy will find nothing from us but resistance and confrontation from our righteous position, while it stands on the side of falsehood, Indeed, falsehood is ever bound to perish.
We affirm that the naval blockade imposed on the Saudi enemy remains in effect, in response to its aggression and its unjust blockade that has persisted for twelve years. We will not hesitate to expand our operations and escalate our actions based on developments in the coming hours and days, within the equation of a blockade for a blockade and an escalation for an escalation."
...
KABOOM!...
s last night on the city and port of Hodeidah and Kamaran Island.
These airstrikes resulted in material and incorporeal damage, and air defenses engaged with a formation of enemy aircraft after they violated Yemeni airspace, preventing them from committing further crimes against this great nation.
In response to this blatant and criminal aggression, the Yemeni Armed Forces carried out two qualitative military operations.
The first targeted sensitive Aramco-affiliated facilities in Jizan with dozens of ballistic missiles and drones.
And the second operation targeted sensitive Aramco-affiliated facilities in Yanbu with a number of ballistic and cruise missiles and drones.
Both operations successfully achieved their objectives, thanks to Allah Almighty, with accurate and direct strikes.
This escalation of aggression confirms the Saudi enemy’s determination to continue its siege of our people and its violation of our country’s illusory sovereignty.
This is unacceptable, and our free, faithful, and valiant people will confront it with unwavering resolve and strength.
We in the Yemeni Armed Forces, relying on Allah, are committed to fulfilling our duty of honorable and responsible defense of our beloved country and our noble people—the people of faith and wisdom, the people of Islam and Arabism.
This criminal enemy will find nothing from us but resistance and confrontation from our righteous position, while it stands on the side of falsehood, Indeed, falsehood is ever bound to perish.
We affirm that the naval blockade imposed on the Saudi enemy remains in effect, in response to its aggression and its unjust blockade that has persisted for twelve years. We will not hesitate to expand our operations and escalate our actions based on developments in the coming hours and days, within the equation of a blockade for a blockade and an escalation for an escalation."
| The Times of Israel adds: |
In Yanbu, two ballistic missiles aimed at oil installations were intercepted by a US-made Patriot battery operated in Saudi Arabia by the Greek military under an agreement with Riyadh, Greek security sources said. Yanbu is Saudi Arabia’s main Red Sea oil port, where millions of barrels a day are loaded, and has become the main route out for Saudi oil skirting the Strait of Hormuz, which has been essentially closed off by Iran. Jizan, on the Red Sea close to the Yemeni border, is the site of a refinery with a capacity of 400,000 barrels per day.
In Yemen, the air force of the Saudi-backed, internationally recognized government, which has opposed the Houthis for more than a decade, struck Houthi missile and drone launch sites and arms depots in the Marib and al-Jawf provinces, Yemeni officials said. The Saudi-led military alliance said it had bombed Houthi military positions on Friday in the Red Sea port of Hodeida.
The Yemeni officials said both sides in Yemen’s civil war were mobilizing forces along the front.
Saudi Arabia led an Arab coalition against the Houthis after the Iran-aligned fighters captured Yemen’s capital, Sanaa, in 2014, though the alliance and the conflict had been largely dormant in recent years.
The Yemeni civil war, during which hundreds of thousands of people died from fighting and famine, has been paused under a ceasefire since 2022. But that truce broke down this month, with the Houthis effectively joining the wider war their Iranian allies have waged since being attacked by the US and Israel.
The Houthis have declared a naval blockade of Saudi Arabia over the past week, and Houthi leader Abdul Malik al-Houthi said all Saudi oil facilities could be targets.
The move has contributed in recent days to one of the war’s sharpest rises in global oil prices, with Brent crude spiking above $100 a barrel for the first time since May.
Yemen’s Houthis say they hit a Saudi Aramco oil facility in Jizan with missiles (and possibly drones) overnight, sparking fires.
— Clash Report (@clashreport) July 25, 2026
Videos of smoke are circulating and satellite data reportedly shows thermal hotspots at the site.
Saudi Civil Defense briefly issued danger… pic.twitter.com/OHN8G41EVw
… briefly issued danger warnings for Jizan and Yanbu, then lifted them.
No official Saudi/Aramco confirmation of damage, casualties, or production impact yet.
Related:
Saudi Aramco 07/16/2026 The end of the 'Cold Peace.' Saudi Arabia's strike has given the Houthis free rein
Saudi Aramco 06/29/2026 14 people killed in helicopter crash in Saudi Arabia
Saudi Aramco 06/26/2026 Saudi Aramco resumes oil loading at Ras Tanura after 4-month halt, shipping data shows
Saudi Aramco 07/16/2026 The end of the 'Cold Peace.' Saudi Arabia's strike has given the Houthis free rein
Saudi Aramco 06/29/2026 14 people killed in helicopter crash in Saudi Arabia
Saudi Aramco 06/26/2026 Saudi Aramco resumes oil loading at Ras Tanura after 4-month halt, shipping data shows