KSA

RIYADH : Saudi Arabia's Civil Defense issued emergency alerts on Tuesday warning residents of a "potential danger" in the southwestern cities of Abha and Khamis Mushait amid an escalation of attacks from neighboring Yemen. The alerts were broadcast through the national early warning platform, with authorities urging residents to "immediately proceed to the nearest safe place (inside a building or an interior room away from windows) and stay there until the danger has passed". The agency subsequently announced that the danger had passed in the affected areas without specifying the nature of the threat or providing details on casualties or damage . The warnings came after the Iran-backed Houthi group confirmed it had carried out large-scale missile and drone attacks targeting Saudi Arabia. Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Sarea said the group used "dozens of ballistic missiles and drones" to strike facilities belonging to state oil giant Aramco in Abha, Najran, and Jazan, as well as King Khalid Air Base near Khamis Mushait. Sarea claimed the strikes were "precise and direct" and caused "significant damage," adding that the operation was in response to what he described as a "sharp escalation of Saudi military operations" in Yemen, with 121 airstrikes conducted over the previous three days . Saudi authorities confirmed that Houthi attacks targeted civilian and economic sites in Abha, Khamis Mushait, Jazan, and Najran, injuring at least 73 civilians, including women and children. The Saudi Energy Ministry reported fires at energy facilities in the southern region and said some operations at the targeted sites were temporarily halted. Jazan is home to a refinery with a capacity of approximately 400,000 barrels per day, making it one of the kingdom's largest processing facilities . Coalition spokesperson Major General Turki Al-Malki described the attacks as a 'dangerous escalation' that confirms the Houthi militia's 'hostile and irresponsible approach'. In a statement, Al-Malki said the attacks 'constitute a blatant violation of the Kingdom's sovereignty and a direct threat to the security and safety of its citizens and residents'. He affirmed that the Joint Forces Command would take 'all necessary operational measures to deter this terrorist militia and resolutely confront its hostile approach' . The Houthi group, which has controlled Yemen's capital Sanaa since 2014, stated it would continue military operations "deep inside Saudi Arabia" and threatened 'stronger and wider strikes' if Saudi military operations in Yemen persisted. The cross-border attacks occurred against the backdrop of intensified fighting inside Yemen, where government forces backed by Saudi Arabia have been battling Houthi forces on multiple fronts, including in Taiz, Hodeidah, and Al-Jawf provinces. UN Special Envoy for Yemen Hans Grundberg called the renewed hostilities 'an extremely alarming development' and urged all parties to cease hostilities. The European Union also condemned the strikes, with a spokesperson stating the attacks 'constitute a dangerous escalation, violate international law, undermine regional security and stability, and risk further jeopardising efforts towards a peaceful resolution of the conflict in Yemen' .