Saudi Arabia has issued emergency alerts across several regions of the kingdom on Tuesday, September 15, as the Iran-backed Houthi rebel movement of Yemen has stepped up missile and drone attacks.
The Saudi Civil Defence authorities issued “potential danger” warnings for many places in the kingdom, including Jeddah, Taif, Abha, Jazan, AlUla and Yanbu. Residents had to keep calm, follow the advice of authorities and move to safe zones and take official safety measures, it said.
The alerts came as Houthi forces launched a new wave of missile and drone strikes against Saudi Arabia. Saudi authorities said the attacks targeted areas such as Khamis Mushait, Abha and Taif, and 13 civilians were wounded with minor to moderate injuries.
These latest attacks are a significant escalation since cross-border hostilities had been relatively low.
BREAKING: Saudi Arabia has issued an emergency missile and drone warning covering Mecca and several other cities, including Jeddah, Taif, Yanbu, Abha, Jazan and AlUla.
— News Algebra (@NewsAlgebraIND) September 15, 2026
The alert comes amid continued missile and drone attacks by the Houthis targeting areas in southern Saudi…
For Saudi authorities, the immediate danger had passed in the six areas that received alerts: Jeddah, Abha, Jazan, AlUla, Taif and Yanbu. The all-clear showed that the immediate threat in those areas had diminished, but the bigger security situation is still very tense.
Residents were advised to respond and keep up with what was being announced. People should be advised not to approach suspicious objects or debris, and Civil Defence instructions are in place for missile or drone threats, the Civil Defence website said.
The latest escalation comes as Houthi forces have intensified their military operations in Yemen and expanded attacks against Saudi targets. Houthi missile and drone strikes, including an attack on a Saudi military base in Khamis Mushait, were reported. Saudi military strikes were launched against Houthi positions in Yemen.
And beyond those immediate security problems, the conflict is also having far-reaching consequences. Saudi Arabia’s energy infrastructure and export routes have been under more scrutiny as regional hostilities intensify. Attacks on the East-West oil pipeline have also been affecting the worldwide energy supply, adding to concerns about energy supplies.
The oil markets reacted sharply to the developments. Brent crude rose to above $107 a barrel on September 15 as oil prices roared to $107 and investors were growing increasingly worried about the continuing attacks and disruptions to the region’s energy infrastructure that may exacerbate the situation.
The centrality of the region was made more evident as development took place on the Red Sea and Bab el-Mandeb Strait, one of the world’s most important maritime routes. Houthi advances and attacks in that region have raised concerns about the security of shipping and the movement of oil and other commodities.
The new attack is a serious security risk for Saudi Arabia. The kingdom needs to protect very large population centres, military bases and critical energy infrastructure as the conflict grows.
The inclusion of cities like Jeddah and Yanbu in the emergency warning is particularly important since both are key Red Sea locations. Yanbu is a major oil export centre, and Jeddah is the second largest city in Saudi Arabia and a major commercial centre.
Mecca also appeared in reports about the warning, although the official all-clear reported by Reuters specifically covered six locations: Jeddah, Abha, Jazan, AlUla, Taif and Yanbu.
The latest developments illustrate just how fast regional military tensions can affect civilian areas and global markets. Emergency alerts in the six reported locations have been lifted, but officials are on high alert as missile and drone attacks continue.
As the security situation remains a threat to residents and travellers in Saudi Arabia, officials are advising continued vigilance and compliance with Civil Defence instructions as the security situation continues to be monitored and Civil Defence is put into operation.
