West Asia war LIVE: Saudi Arabia warns it will react 'firmly' to Houthi attacks

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A woman sits with her children outside a tent at a makeshift camp for people displaced by clashes between Iran-aligned Houthi fighters and Saudi-backed Yemeni government forces, in Taiz Province, Yemen, September 14, 2026. Picture taken with a mobile phone. | Photo Credit: STRINGER

S audi Arabia warned Tuesday (September 15, 2026) it will react “firmly” to Yemen’s Houthis, after a series of attacks carried out by the pro-Iranian rebels using ballistic missiles and drones wounded 13 civilians in the country’s south.

The Houthis have been engaged in renewed fighting with Saudi-backed government forces since Yemen’s civil war reignited in July, when the group declared a maritime blockade on Riyadh and began targeting its ships in the Red Sea. The group seized control of Yemen’s Red Sea coast and the Bab al-Mandab Strait last week, which has become vital as the wider U.S.-Iran war chokes the Strait of Hormuz, in a significant blow to Yemeni government forces.

The Saudi Arabian ‌Civil Defence sent an all-clear on Tuesday (September 15) after issuing alerts for potential danger ‌in six cities, including Yanbu, ‌the kingdom’s ‌main ⁠Red Sea oil ⁠port, where millions of barrels a day are loaded. Saudi ‌Civil Defence said the danger had passed in ‌Jeddah, Abha, Jazan, AlUla and Taif after the areas ⁠received emergency alerts amid an uptick in ‌attacks by Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthis.

Shipping traffic at the Strait of Hormuz dwindled further at the start of this week after attacks intensified in ‌West Asia, shipping data showed.

Commodity vessel transits at Hormuz totalled four on ⁠Monday, down from 10 during the previous day, preliminary data from Kpler showed on Tuesday.

Two dry bulk carriers exited ‌the waterway, including one laden and one ballast vessel, while two oil tankers ‌entered the strait, both in ballast mode.

The ‌figures ⁠exclude some vessels that might have ⁠crossed the strait with their Automatic Identification System transponders turned off to avoid detection.

U.S. President Donald Trump has nominated Republican congressman Wesley Hunt, a US Army veteran, as his new ambassador to Saudi Arabia -- a post that had been left vacant amid the war with Iran.

Hunt’s nomination was sent Monday (September 14) to the U.S. Senate, which must vote on his confirmation.

“Having served in the region both in combat as an Army officer and for two years as a diplomatic liaison in the Kingdom, I understand the strategic importance of the partnership between the United States and Saudi Arabia and the profound responsibility of this position,” Hunt said in a post on X.

Saudi Arabia warned Tuesday it will react “firmly” to Yemen’s Houthis, after a series of attacks carried out by the pro-Iranian rebels using ballistic missiles and drones wounded 13 civilians in the country’s south.

The Houthis have been engaged in renewed fighting with Saudi-backed government forces since Yemen’s civil war reignited in July, when the group declared a maritime blockade on Riyadh and began targeting its ships in the Red Sea.