Fighting between Saudi Arabia and Houthi forces in Yemen has escalated, according to Al Jazeera. Saudi Arabia has promised firm retaliation after Houthi strikes reportedly injured 73 people and disrupted energy facilities in southern cities. The report examines what happened in the latest confrontation and what may come next, as tensions threaten to deepen the long-running conflict linked to Yemen's civil war.

Yemen's Ambassador to Qatar has accused the Houthis of attempting to draw Saudi Arabia into the conflict by targeting Saudi territory. According to Al Jazeera, the Yemeni diplomat said the group's cross-border attacks are a deliberate strategy to drag the kingdom into war. The remarks come amid ongoing tensions in Yemen, where the Houthis have been involved in a prolonged conflict with the internationally recognised government.

Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi forces have launched drone strikes targeting four Saudi cities, according to Legit.ng, igniting oil installations and releasing video of the attacks. The escalation comes amid rising tensions in the Gulf and a broader Middle East conflict, pushing Brent crude prices above $99 per barrel. Saudi Arabia, described as a top United States ally, has faced repeated Houthi attacks on its energy infrastructure in past years. The reported strikes signal a further intensification of regional hostilities.

Fighting has escalated in Yemen, with the government accusing Houthi rebels of killing three children. The Houthis, in turn, claim Saudi forces launched 54 air raids within 12 hours, according to Al Jazeera. The Houthi attacks have also triggered alerts in neighboring Saudi Arabia, underscoring the continuing cross-border dimensions of the conflict and the ongoing exchanges of accusations between the warring parties.

Yemeni government forces have launched a counteroffensive against Houthi rebels, vowing to retake the capital Sanaa, according to Al Jazeera. The push comes as clashes between the two sides intensify in the provinces of al-Bayda and al-Jawf. The Houthis have controlled Sanaa since 2014, and the fighting is part of Yemen's long-running civil war, which has drawn in regional powers and caused a severe humanitarian crisis.

Pakistan has warned that its defence agreement with Saudi Arabia, reportedly tied to the protection of Mecca, could be activated if Yemen's Houthi rebels continue attacks on the kingdom. According to Al Jazeera, Islamabad said ongoing Houthi strikes targeting Saudi territory risk triggering the pact, signalling potential Pakistani involvement. The warning underscores rising regional tensions as Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia persist amid the wider Middle East conflict.