Explosions Reported in Sanaa as Houthis Allege Saudi Airstrikes

Loud explosions were heard in Yemen’s capital, Sanaa, on Saturday as the Houthis reported what they described as Saudi airstrikes in the area.

Al-Masirah TV, a Houthi-affiliated media outlet, described the reported action as “Saudi aggression” against Sanaa. The channel did not identify any targets or report casualties.

The account has not been independently verified. Available information does not establish whether Saudi forces carried out the reported strikes, nor does it confirm damage in the capital.

Reports from northern Yemen

Al-Masirah had earlier reported missile strikes on the telecommunications network in Saada governorate, in north-western Yemen. No further verified details about those reports were available.

The latest reports come amid renewed fighting between the Iran-backed Houthis, who control much of north-western Yemen, and Yemen’s internationally recognised government. The government is based in Aden and is backed by Saudi Arabia, while it reportedly controls much of southern and eastern Yemen.

Fighting in recent days has been centred on Taiz. Sources on both sides of the conflict reported that 80 combatants were killed there on Friday. The battle for Taiz has taken place across several fronts, including highlands overlooking coastal areas recently seized by the Houthis.

Wider escalation

The conflict was described as having returned to civil war in July after several years of relative calm. The renewed hostilities followed an incident involving an Iranian plane carrying a Houthi delegation to Sanaa without Saudi authorisation, according to the available account.

Saudi Arabia then responded with strikes on Sanaa airport, the report said. The Houthis subsequently attacked Saudi territory for the first time since 2022 and later seized coastal areas along the Bab al-Mandab strait.

The Houthis also reported attacks on Saudi targets, including oil infrastructure and Riyadh, and announced a naval blockade on Saudi ships in the Red Sea.

Separately, a large plume of smoke and fires was reported near an oil facility in Riyadh on Saturday. The source of that report was not identified, and the incident was not independently confirmed.

Saudi Arabia had reportedly sought assistance from the United States, but the request was described as having so far been rebuffed by President Donald Trump. That account also remains unverified.

The latest developments add to tensions between Saudi Arabia and the Houthis, but the circumstances surrounding the reported explosions in Sanaa, including their targets and possible casualties, remain unclear.