Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi rebels has said they launched missiles and drones at Saudi Arabia in response to Saudi airstrikes on the strategic Red Sea port city of Hodeida, marking a fresh threat over the security of key shipping routes.

Houthi military spokesperson Brig Gen Yahya Saree said the attack targeted Aramco facilities in the Red Sea cities of Yanbu and Jizan. Saudi Arabia’s civil defence confirmed that air raid sirens sounded several times in both cities early Saturday.

The latest exchange follows the Houthis’ threat to block Saudi-linked shipping through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, accusing Riyadh of enforcing a blockade on Yemen and carrying out recent attacks, including on Sanaa’s international airport.

The Bab el-Mandeb Strait is a critical global maritime chokepoint linking the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden, through which around 12 per cent of global trade passes.

Earlier, the Houthis targeted two Saudi oil tankers in the Red Sea. In retaliation, the Saudi-led coalition said it carried out airstrikes on Hodeida, hitting the port and the state-run telecommunications corporation. According to Houthi health ministry spokesperson Anees al-Asbahi, two people were injured in the strikes.

Meanwhile, Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi called for diplomacy and dialogue to resolve the Yemen conflict, urging all sides to avoid further military confrontation in remarks published by Iran’s state-run newspaper.