The US-Iran war: the Houthis' missile and drone attacks on Saudi Arabia

Active · last development Sep 26: “Allies back Saudi Arabia”

What this arc covers

Yemen's Houthi rebels have escalated attacks on Saudi Arabia using missiles and drones, targeting airports and oil facilities. The campaign has widened regional tensions and disrupted Yemen's internal politics.

Photo from Latin Times, with France to Deploy Forces to Protect Saudi Red Sea Oil Port (Sep 24), the story with the most independent sources this week.

Earliest story we hold Jul 13, 2026 · 42 stories · 174 independent sources (counted once each) · 75 days

Part ofHouthisSaudi ArabiaYemenIranDonald TrumpMohammed bin Salman Al SaudPakistanTurkey

Part of The US-Iran war

  1. Iran's leadership losses, succession and protestsDec 29, 2025 – Sep 2, 2026
  2. Strikes and their immediate aftermathJan 9 – Sep 25, 2026
  3. Ceasefire and peace negotiationsJan 12 – Sep 28, 2026
  4. Passage through the Strait of HormuzFeb 17 – Sep 21, 2026
  5. Israel's 2026 war with Hezbollah and its first direct talks with LebanonFeb 23 – Sep 17, 2026
  6. Congress's war powers votes and the fight over the warFeb 28 – Sep 27, 2026
  7. Oil prices, gas prices and the market falloutFeb 28 – Sep 28, 2026
  8. the Houthis' missile and drone attacks on Saudi ArabiaThis arcJul 13 – Sep 26, 2026
Show remaining 4 arcs
  1. The drone attack that killed three US troops in Jordan and the US strikes in replyJan 23 – Dec 17, 2024
  2. Iran and Israel's first direct strikes on each other, in April and October 2024Apr 1 – Nov 13, 2024
  3. Trump's 2025 nuclear talks with IranFeb 7 – Nov 16, 2025
  4. The 12-day Israel-Iran war of June 2025 and the US strikes on Iran's nuclear sitesJun 12 – Jul 11, 2025

Where it standsnewest first · each bar runs left to right by leaning

Sep 26Allies back Saudi Arabia4 articles · 1 independent sources
1 left, 1 center, 1 right
Sep 25Top Saudi cleric urges troops to defend against the Houthis3 articles · 3 independent sources
0 left, 1 center, 0 right
Sep 24– 25France to Deploy Forces to Protect Saudi Red Sea Oil Port7 articles · 6 independent sources
2 left, 2 center, 0 right

Key momentsthe most covered; every story is below

  1. Jul 20 – 23A new threat by Yemen's Houthis could widen the Iran war and put another trade chokepoint at risk85 articles · 39 independent sources
    1. Jul 20Houthis announce maritime blockade on Saudi Arabia
    2. Jul 21A new threat by Yemen’s Houthis could widen the Iran war and put another trade chokepoint at risk
    3. Jul 21Houthis Enter the Chat. Yemen Proclaims 'Embargo' of Red Sea Shipping From Saudi Arabia
    4. Jul 21Only lean-right coverage:Trump warns Houthi rebels not to block Red Sea ports and grapples with Hezbollah in Lebanon meeting
    5. Jul 22Only center coverage:U.S. and Pakistan condemn Houthi Red Sea threats to shipping and Saudi Arabia
  2. Jul 20 – 26Houthis claim attack on Saudi oil refinery as Iran war widens to Red Sea125 articles · 53 independent sources
    1. Jul 20Only lean-right coverage:Houthis Force Saudi Oil Tankers To U-Turn in Red Sea
    2. Jul 22Houthi Red Sea Blockade Could Shatter Hopes for Lower Oil Prices
    3. Jul 22Houthis claim missile and drone attacks on 2 Saudi oil tankers in Red Sea
    4. Jul 23US carries out 12th night of strikes against Iran as Houthis claim attacks on oil tankers
    5. Jul 24Houthis say hit Saudi Arabia as fighting spreads on new Middle East front
  3. Aug 6 – 9Houthis claim attacks on Saudi oil facility and Yemeni port52 articles · 28 independent sources
    1. Aug 6Houthi missile attacks kill 58 Saudi-backed Yemeni govt forces
    2. Aug 7Houthi strikes in Yemen as Saudi Arabia braces for attacks: What we know
    3. Aug 8Only lean-right coverage:Yemen attacks Houthis, Turkey’s Kurdish peace bill wins approval, and other Middle East news
    4. Aug 8Yemen’s Houthis claim attack on Aramco oil facility in Saudi Arabia, and other Middle East news
  4. Aug 8 – 14Houthi attack on port kills four eroding truce with Yemen’s government57 articles · 25 independent sources
    1. Aug 8Only center coverage:Yemen’s government forces attack Houthis amid renewed shelling of Marib
    2. Aug 11Only lean-right coverage:Iranian-backed Houthi rebels renew attacks on key port city, and other developments in the Mideast
    3. Aug 11Iranian-backed Houthis kill 6 in attack on vessel, and other developments in the Mideast
  5. Sep 7 – 14Houthis target Saudi base as Iran denies involvement in Yemen war265 articles · 73 independent sources
    1. Sep 7Houthis strike Saudi Arabian cities in significant expansion of Middle East war
    2. Sep 9Iran-backed Houthi rebels take strategic port city in Yemen, raising threat to Red Sea shipping
    3. Sep 11Houthi advance on Red Sea island threatens vital shipping lane
    4. Sep 13Fighting in Yemen intensifies, and Houthis launch more attacks on Saudi Arabia
    5. Sep 14Houthis attack Saudi Arabia as Gulf-Iran talks are postponed
  6. Sep 11 – 18Saudi Arabia accuses Houthis of targeting Mecca, warns of 'red line'95 articles · 48 independent sources
    1. Sep 11Houthi gains in Yemen are testing Saudi Arabia’s security strategy
    2. Sep 14Saudi Arabia vows to respond 'firmly' to Houthi attacks
    3. Sep 16Saudis pound Yemen as Houthis solidify gains in expansion of Middle East war
    4. Sep 16Saudi Arabia accuses Houthis of targeting Mecca, calls it a 'red line'
    5. Sep 17What to know after a week of Houthi attacks that threaten Saudi oil and have rattled world markets
  7. Sep 18 – 22Despite military might, Saudi struggles to crush the Houthis95 articles · 53 independent sources
    1. Sep 18Houthis accuse Saudi Arabia of launching 26 strikes in 24 hours
    2. Sep 19Flames, smoke seen near Riyadh airport; Houthis claim attacks on Saudi capital
    3. Sep 20In significant escalation, Houthis attack Saudi capital
    4. Sep 21As US steers clear of Yemen fight, the Iran-backed Houthis launch next phase of campaign
    5. Sep 22Houthis pressing to control highlands

Who covered it, over timeindependent sources per week, by side

Jul 13Jul 27Aug 10Aug 24Sep 7Sep 21

LeftCenterRight

Point at or tap a week to see its count by side.

Every week as a table
Week ofLeftCenterRightArticles
Jul 13, 202602411
Jul 20, 2026112421230
Jul 27, 20260129
Aug 3, 2026211550
Aug 10, 2026712582
Aug 17, 20260123
Sep 7, 2026214217231
Sep 14, 2026223315169
Sep 21, 202610141065

20% left · 58% center · 22% right of 174 independent sources among the outlets we track, across 42 stories.

Every storyoldest first

  1. July 2026

    Jul 13– 15Yemen's Houthis strike Saudi Arabia's Abha airport with missiles and drones in a sharp escalation14 articles · 14 independent sources
    0 left, 2 center, 4 right
  2. Jul 20– 23A new threat by Yemen's Houthis could widen the Iran war and put another trade chokepoint at risk85 articles · 39 independent sources
    8 left, 11 center, 14 right
  3. Jul 20– 26Houthis claim attack on Saudi oil refinery as Iran war widens to Red Sea125 articles · 53 independent sources
    6 left, 12 center, 9 right
  4. Jul 22– 23Exclusive-Iran flew IRGC commanders, missile gear to Yemen's Houthis, sources say5 articles · 5 independent sources
    0 left, 0 center, 3 right
  5. Jul 25– 30Exclusive-Yemen's Houthis are attacking Saudi Arabia from Iraq, sources say43 articles · 24 independent sources
    0 left, 8 center, 3 right
  6. Jul 25Houthis fire on Saudi oil sites; no US strike on Iran for first time in two weeks14 articles · 3 independent sources
    3 left, 1 center, 1 right

  7. August 2026

    Aug 6– 9Houthis claim attacks on Saudi oil facility and Yemeni port52 articles · 28 independent sources
    1 left, 10 center, 5 right
  8. Aug 6– 7Saudi Arabia braces for attacks on ports and airports by Iraqi militias working with Iran-backed Houthis10 articles · 10 independent sources
    1 left, 2 center, 0 right
  9. Aug 8– 14Houthi attack on port kills four eroding truce with Yemen’s government57 articles · 25 independent sources
    3 left, 9 center, 4 right
  10. Aug 10A blocked Iranian flight to Yemen set off Houthis’ latest spiral with Saudi Arabia6 articles · 6 independent sources
    1 left, 0 center, 0 right
  11. Aug 12– 15The Pentagon Killed 153 Civilians in Yemen Last Year. Then It Gutted the Watchdog Investigating It16 articles · 15 independent sources
    3 left, 2 center, 0 right
  12. Aug 13– 14Iran-backed Houthi rebels clash with Yemeni government forces and other Mideast developments15 articles · 11 independent sources
    0 left, 3 center, 1 right
  13. Aug 13– 17Houthis launch new attacks on al-Makha and Marib as Yemen conflict escalates4 articles · 2 independent sources
    0 left, 1 center, 0 right
  14. Aug 13– 14Yemen’s Houthis claim new attack on Aramco refinery in Saudi Arabia: What to know3 articles · 3 independent sources
    1 left, 0 center, 0 right
  16. Aug 21– 22Yemen’s Houthis claim they carried out attack on Najran airport, Aramco facilities in Saudi Arabia2 articles · 2 independent sources
    0 left, 0 center, 2 right

  17. September 2026

    Sep 3– 7More than 140 killed in latest Yemen clashes: military sources13 articles · 5 independent sources
    0 left, 1 center, 0 right
  18. Sep 7– 14Houthis target Saudi base as Iran denies involvement in Yemen war265 articles · 73 independent sources
    19 left, 39 center, 17 right
  19. Sep 9– 11Analysis-As Saudi tensions with Iran-backed Houthis escalate, mediator Pakistan faces pressure to choose a side6 articles · 4 independent sources
    1 left, 1 center, 1 right
  20. Sep 11– 12Saudi crown prince sought US military help from Trump with Houthis, sources say11 articles · 11 independent sources
    2 left, 2 center, 6 right
  21. Sep 11– 18Saudi Arabia accuses Houthis of targeting Mecca, warns of 'red line'95 articles · 48 independent sources
    14 left, 15 center, 8 right
  22. Sep 11– 12Proxy fight in Yemen heats up, risking new front in US-Iran war6 articles · 4 independent sources
    0 left, 1 center, 0 right
  23. Sep 12‘A f***-up of epic proportions’: Blame game begins after Iran-backed Houthis’ lightning advance down Red Sea coast8 articles · 8 independent sources
    0 left, 1 center, 0 right
  25. Sep 15Houthi Attacks on Saudi Oil Piplines Send Prices Higher; Israel Claims 'Massive Victory' over Hezbollah2 articles · 1 independent sources
    0 left, 0 center, 1 right
  26. Sep 15– 16Saudi crown prince seeks Egypt’s backing as Houthi attacks rattle Red Sea oil routes10 articles · 7 independent sources
    1 left, 4 center, 0 right
  27. Sep 15– 19Yemen conflict displaces 112,000 people inside country, thousands flee to Djibouti, UN migration agency says14 articles · 11 independent sources
    2 left, 2 center, 2 right
  28. Sep 15– 18Saudi Arabia says debris from an intercepted Houthi drone killed 112 articles · 7 independent sources
    1 left, 5 center, 2 right
  29. Sep 16– 17Trump declines to back Saudi Arabia as US officials reportedly meet Iran-backed Houthis in Oman7 articles · 7 independent sources
    0 left, 1 center, 3 right
  30. Sep 16– 17Houthis release video claiming to show downed Saudi F-15 fighter as Iran-backed rebels press their lightning advance11 articles · 11 independent sources
    0 left, 4 center, 0 right
  31. Sep 18– 22Despite military might, Saudi struggles to crush the Houthis95 articles · 53 independent sources
    11 left, 14 center, 10 right
  32. Sep 21U.S. military leaders divided over action against the Houthis3 articles · 2 independent sources
    0 left, 1 center, 0 right
  33. Sep 21Trump gets caught in a dilemma over a saudi plea for military help2 articles · 2 independent sources
    1 left, 0 center, 0 right
  34. Sep 21– 23UK to offer Saudi Arabia aerial refueling to counter Houthi attacks15 articles · 10 independent sources
    4 left, 3 center, 0 right
  35. Sep 21– 22More Yemenis expected to flee from upsurge in fighting, UN says3 articles · 3 independent sources
    0 left, 0 center, 1 right
  36. Sep 21– 22Why Trump is leaving Saudi Arabia alone to fight the Houthis — even as they threaten global oil supplies2 articles · 2 independent sources
    0 left, 1 center, 1 right
  37. Sep 22Houthis accuse Saudi Arabia of deadly strikes as thousands flee3 articles · 2 independent sources
    0 left, 1 center, 0 right
  38. Sep 22– 26Saudi Arabia says it intercepts another Houthi-launched missile17 articles · 10 independent sources
    3 left, 3 center, 1 right
  39. Sep 23– 25Yemeni leader calls for general mobilization against Houthis4 articles · 4 independent sources
    1 left, 1 center, 0 right
  40. Sep 24– 25France to Deploy Forces to Protect Saudi Red Sea Oil Port7 articles · 6 independent sources
    2 left, 2 center, 0 right
  41. Sep 25Top Saudi cleric urges troops to defend against the Houthis3 articles · 3 independent sources
    0 left, 1 center, 0 right
  42. Sep 26Allies back Saudi Arabia4 articles · 1 independent sources
    1 left, 1 center, 1 right