Loud explosions reported across Sanaa after Houthis claim missile and drone attacks on Riyadh amid escalating regional tensions
Riyadh, Oct 2026 : Loud explosions shook Yemen’s Houthi-controlled capital Sanaa late Saturday night, with Houthi-run al-Masirah TV reporting fresh Saudi airstrikes on the city amid escalating tensions between the two sides.
A Sanaa resident, speaking to Xinhua on condition of anonymity, said warplanes could be heard flying over the capital before powerful blasts reverberated across the city. The explosions were strong enough to rattle windows and shake buildings, causing panic among residents.
“The blasts were so powerful that the ground shook beneath us,” the resident said, describing the impact as resembling an earthquake. The resident added that children were awakened and left frightened by the explosions.
Several residents said they believed the strikes had targeted positions controlled by the Houthis. However, there was no immediate official information regarding casualties or the extent of damage caused by the reported airstrikes.
Earlier on Saturday, the Houthis claimed to have launched ballistic missiles and drones at an Aramco facility in Riyadh. The group described the attack as retaliation for what it called intensified Saudi military strikes against targets in Yemen.
Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Sarea claimed that Yemen had come under 60 air and missile strikes over a 24-hour period, according to Xinhua news agency.
The latest exchange comes amid a sharp escalation in hostilities. Tensions increased after the Houthis announced a maritime embargo against Saudi Arabia on July 20, followed by an increase in reported cross-border missile and drone attacks and Saudi airstrikes.
The confrontation widened further in September as fighting intensified between Houthi forces and Yemeni government troops, which are largely backed by Saudi Arabia. The Houthis claimed control of the Red Sea port city of Mocha on September 10 and captured strategically located Mayyun Island the following day.
Yemen’s conflict began in late 2014 when Houthi forces seized Sanaa and large parts of northern Yemen. Saudi Arabia subsequently led a military coalition that intervened in March 2015 in support of Yemen’s internationally recognised government.
The latest reported strikes and retaliatory attacks underline the continuing volatility of the conflict, with concerns over further escalation remaining high.
(Disclaimer :The content of this article is sourced from a news agency and has not been edited by the Mavericknews30 team.)
