Defense Ministry spokesperson Maj. Gen. Turki Al-Maliki said claims circulating about an attack on the strategic air base south of Riyadh were inaccurate and not supported by the findings of an official investigation.The clarification followed a brief warning issued by Saudi authorities shortly after dawn through the National Early Warning Platform, which advised residents in Al-Kharj to follow safety instructions and seek shelter.

The alert was lifted minutes later.Al-Maliki said air raid sirens sounded after authorities detected a ballistic missile launch from Yemen. Initial tracking data created uncertainty about the projectile’s intended destination, prompting precautionary measures.

Subsequent investigations determined that the missile had been launched toward another country in the region but malfunctioned during flight and deviated from its original course due to technical issues, according to the ministry.The missile eventually landed in an unpopulated area near the Saudi-Yemeni border, Al-Maliki said, adding that no damage or casualties were reported.

The incident occurred amid heightened regional tensions after Israel and Iran exchanged attacks on Monday for the first time since a ceasefire brokered by Washington two months earlier. The renewed hostilities raised concerns about a broader escalation across the Middle East and the future of ongoing diplomatic efforts between the United States and Iran.Saudi Arabia has remained on heightened alert throughout the regional conflict.

During March, Saudi air defenses intercepted multiple drones and missiles launched by Iran and allied groups targeting locations across the Kingdom as fighting expanded beyond Iran and Israel.Riyadh, along with other Arab governments, has repeatedly condemned attacks targeting regional states, describing them as destabilizing actions that threaten security, energy infrastructure and commercial activity across the Middle East.

Prince Sultan Air Base is one of Saudi Arabia’s most important military installations and has played a significant role in regional defense operations and security coordination with international partners.

Trump said in a post on Truth Social that both sides were looking to stop hostilities and that negotiations on a peace agreement were proceeding, while adding that a U.S.-led blockade would remain in force until a final deal was reached.

The comments came after Iran and Israel exchanged attacks for the first time since a truce took effect in April, raising concerns over the durability of diplomatic efforts aimed at ending the wider Middle East war.

Iran’s Khatam Al-Anbiya military command later announced that armed forces operations against Israel had ceased, saying Tehran had delivered what it described as a “painful response” and was ending military action accordingly. The statement was carried by Iranian state television.

An Israeli official said Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke by telephone on Monday before the U.S. president publicly stated that both sides were seeking an immediate ceasefire.

Iran’s government, however, blamed Washington for the renewed fighting. Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei told reporters in Tehran that Israeli military actions could not be separated from U.S. policy and said no one believed Israel would undertake such actions without coordination with Washington.

Baqaei said the renewed hostilities could affect diplomatic efforts launched to end what Tehran describes as an imposed war.

Israel said it struck a petrochemical facility in Iran’s southwestern city of Mahshahr and carried out additional attacks against military targets. Israeli military officials said the operation also targeted and dismantled air-defense capabilities that Tehran had been attempting to restore.

A provincial Iranian official told the semi-official Fars news agency that parts of the Mahshahr petrochemical complex were damaged.

Iran’s Revolutionary Guards responded by launching missiles toward a petrochemical facility in Haifa, according to Iran’s Tasnim news agency. The Israeli military said Iran had fired nearly 30 missiles at Israel since Sunday night.

In Tehran, a large explosion was heard near the Foreign Ministry during a press conference attended by journalists, including AFP reporters. Iranian media reported that air-defense systems were activated in parts of the capital and later said a drone described as belonging to the “American-Zionist enemy” had been shot down over the city.

The Israeli military warned later on Monday that another wave of Iranian missiles was approaching and instructed residents in affected areas to seek shelter.

Earlier, Trump said the latest attacks would not undermine ongoing U.S.-Iran negotiations and asserted that Netanyahu did not determine the course of diplomacy. According to Axios, citing a U.S. official, Trump urged the Israeli leader during a phone call to avoid further strikes because negotiators were close to securing a breakthrough.

The renewed tensions followed Israeli strikes near Beirut on Sunday, the first in the area since Washington unveiled a Lebanon truce proposal last week. Iran responded with missile salvos against Israeli targets, placing fresh pressure on negotiations intended to end the broader conflict.

Trump has repeatedly said Washington and Tehran are nearing an agreement. In an interview broadcast on NBC News’ “Meet the Press,” he said the sides were very close to a deal while warning of severe consequences if diplomacy failed.

The conflict has increasingly drawn in regional actors. The Israeli military said it intercepted a missile launched from Yemen, marking the first such attack since the ceasefire began in April.

Yemen’s Houthi movement later claimed responsibility for missile strikes against what it called sensitive Israeli targets in the Tel Aviv area. The group said the attacks were coordinated with members of the Iran-aligned “axis of resistance” and announced a complete ban on Israeli maritime navigation in the Red Sea, warning that Israeli-linked vessels would be considered military targets.

The wider conflict has remained largely frozen since April, when U.S. and Israeli attacks on Iran were paused. Tehran subsequently disrupted shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, a critical route for global crude oil and liquefied natural gas exports, while Washington imposed its own blockade on Iranian ports.

Israel has continued military operations in Lebanon throughout the period, while Hezbollah has maintained attacks against Israel and rejected calls to disarm unless Israeli forces halt strikes and withdraw from Lebanese territory.

Netanyahu said Sunday’s strikes on Beirut’s southern suburbs were ordered in response to Hezbollah fire toward Israel, underscoring the fragile state of regional ceasefire efforts as diplomatic negotiations continue.

The latest exchange of fire marked the most direct confrontation between the two adversaries since an April ceasefire, underscoring the fragility of diplomatic progress and highlighting the risk that violence elsewhere in the region could reignite the conflict.

Iran’s military headquarters announced that armed forces operations against Israel had been halted after what it described as a “painful response” to Israeli attacks on Lebanon. The statement, however, warned that Tehran would resume military action if Israeli operations continued, including in southern Lebanon.

A source briefed on the matter told Reuters that Israel had also decided to suspend attacks on Iran, although Israeli officials maintained that the military remained prepared to continue operations if required.

The confrontation began after Iran launched missiles toward Israeli territory late on Sunday, which Tehran said was retaliation for Israeli strikes on Hezbollah strongholds on the outskirts of Beirut. Israel responded with attacks on Iranian targets, including a petrochemical facility in the southwestern city of Mahshahr.

Israeli officials said the site was used to produce and export raw materials for Iran’s ballistic missile program. A provincial Iranian official told local media that sections of the complex had sustained damage.

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said it retaliated by targeting a similar petrochemical facility in the Israeli port city of Haifa.

The flare-up reverberated through global markets. Oil prices surged as much as 5% before retreating after Iran signaled that its initial military response had concluded. The U.S. dollar also eased after reaching its highest level in nearly two months.

The renewed violence has complicated Trump’s efforts to secure a broader agreement with Tehran. The conflict, launched by the United States and Israel on Feb. 28, has remained largely frozen since an April 8 ceasefire paused full-scale warfare.

In a social media post, Trump said Israel and Iran were seeking “an immediate CEASEFIRE” and that final negotiations toward peace were progressing. He added that a U.S. blockade of Iranian ports would remain in place until a comprehensive agreement was reached.

An Israeli official confirmed that Trump spoke with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday as Washington sought to prevent the latest escalation from derailing diplomacy.

Despite indications of restraint, officials on both sides maintained a hardened stance. An Israeli military official said the armed forces were prepared to continue operations “for as long as it takes” and confirmed strikes on newly rebuilt Iranian air-defense systems in addition to the petrochemical facility.

Iranian officials likewise signaled readiness for a prolonged confrontation. A military source quoted by the semi-official Tasnim news agency said Tehran could renew attacks, including against U.S. interests in the region, if circumstances warranted.

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said talks with Washington were taking place in an atmosphere of “extreme suspicion” and accused Israel of attempting to sabotage diplomatic efforts through its military actions in Lebanon.

In Tehran, state media reported explosions and said air-defense systems had shot down a drone over the capital. No significant casualties or major damage were immediately reported.

The conflict also drew in Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthis, who announced plans to prevent Israeli maritime navigation through the Red Sea and claimed responsibility for missile launches against Israel.

An Israeli military official said Iran had fired nearly 30 ballistic missiles toward Israel since Sunday evening, while the Houthis launched an additional two missiles.

Iran’s National Emergency Organization said 15 people were injured in the latest Israeli strikes, including 14 in Mahshahr County. No fatalities were reported. Israel’s ambulance service said there were no reported casualties from the missile attacks on Israeli territory.

The latest exchange has reinforced the central role of Lebanon in regional diplomacy. Israel has continued military operations against Hezbollah despite the Iran ceasefire, arguing that the Lebanese front is separate from its conflict with Tehran.

Hezbollah has maintained attacks against Israel and insists it will not disarm unless Israeli operations cease. Tehran has repeatedly stated that any comprehensive peace agreement with Washington depends on an end to fighting in Lebanon.

U.S. Ambassador to Lebanon Michel Issa said Lebanese-Israeli negotiations were scheduled to resume in Washington, offering a potential diplomatic channel as efforts continue to prevent the conflict from expanding further.

The war has also reshaped regional trade routes. Iran continues to block most shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, a critical artery for global energy supplies, while Washington has maintained a blockade on Iranian ports.

Trump has said any final settlement must ensure Iran does not develop a nuclear weapon. Tehran has demanded the lifting of international sanctions, access to frozen assets and recognition of its influence over the strategically important waterway.

Tasnim said Iran and its regional allies were considering activating additional fronts, including the Bab El-Mandeb Strait, to pressure Israel and its supporters.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said any violation of the ceasefire in Lebanon would have consequences, holding the United States and Israel responsible.

The report said Tehran would not resume talks until Israeli military operations in Gaza and Lebanon cease and Israeli forces withdraw from occupied areas in Lebanon.

A wave of disinformation spearheaded by accounts linked to the Muslim Brotherhood (Ikhwan) is spreading across social media, falsely claiming that Saudi Arabia has allowed Israel to use its Hamida airbase to strike Houthi rebels in Yemen.

This claim, however, stands in direct contradiction to both the Kingdom’s defense policies and regional geopolitical realities. It’s a desperate attempt to stir regional tensions and provoke public outrage.

Let’s be clear: this claim is not only baseless but reeks of the Brotherhood’s long-standing obsession with vilifying Saudi Arabia under the guise of “defending the Ummah.”

For those with even a faint idea of how geopolitics works in the Gulf, the idea that Riyadh would give its strategic military infrastructure to another country — let alone Israel — to attack a third-party nation is laughable.

Having spent more than a decade in Saudi Arabia, interacting with people from all walks of life—including Houthi Yemenis, legal experts, and policy advisors—I can testify firsthand that the Kingdom’s military and legal doctrine is centered on defense, not aggression. Saudi Arabia does not, and has not, opened its airspace, land, or naval bases to any foreign power to target a third country.

However, during the 1990s, Saudi Arabia sought America’s support to defend its own borders—not to intervene in someone else’s conflict.

During the 2003 U.S.-led invasion of Iraq, it was Turkey under Tayip Erdogan as Prime Minister that offered its Incirlik Airbase, and Qatar that opened up the Al Udeid Airbase to American forces.

While Ikhwani voices slander Saudi Arabia, they conveniently ignore the documented military cooperation between Pakistan and the United States. During the War on Terror, Pakistan openly provided U.S. forces with military bases, including the Shamsi Airbase, from where drone strikes were launched into Afghanistan and tribal areas, resulting in both militant and civilian casualties.

According to a 2011 report by the New York Times, Pakistan received billions in military aid while facilitating these operations, which included over 400 drone strikes between 2004 and 2011 alone.

But the Brotherhood and their digital foot soldiers stay silent on those truths—because facts aren’t convenient when you’re in the business of political manipulation.

This latest rumor is part of a tired Ikhwani playbook: insert “Israel” into any fabricated headline, link it to Saudi Arabia, and watch the outrage machine spin. But times have changed. The region isn’t buying it anymore.

Israel, meanwhile, has shown remarkable technological resilience in the face of escalating regional threats—whether it’s intercepting a record 300+ drones and missiles during a recent multi-front assault, or sharing its defense innovations with allies who genuinely seek peace and progress.

While Saudi Arabia maintains no formal diplomatic relations with Israel, the Kingdom has always taken a principled stance—favoring stability, peace, and regional cooperation without compromising on the Palestinian cause. Meanwhile, Israel has emerged as a hub for technological innovation, counter-terrorism expertise, and disaster response—all areas in which Gulf nations can learn and cooperate, if and when official channels are established.

Kingdom’s stance has always been principled and transparent—focused on stability, not sensationalism.

And speaking of peace, Saudi Arabia and Iran’s normalization just two days ago saw the signing of multiple bilateral agreements—a move that has notably reduced Houthi attacks on Saudi territory. This diplomatic breakthrough alone dismantles the very premise of the Brotherhood’s conspiracy: if missiles have stopped, what exactly would Israel be striking from Saudi soil?

It’s time to call this what it is: Muslim Brotherhood psychological warfare, meant to fracture unity, incite the uninformed, and derail progress under the pretext of pan-Islamism—a worn-out mask for power politics.

Let’s not be fooled.

Following the meeting, Sheikh Amr took to X, to share details of the discussions, posting a picture of himself holding hands with the Saudi Defense Minister. In his post, he emphasized the importance of the dialogue, stating:

“During our meeting with His Royal Highness Prince Khalid bin Salman, Minister of Defense of the sisterly Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, in the city of Jeddah on the evening of Thursday, corresponding to the 20th of Ramadan of this year 1446 AH, the situation in Yemen in general was discussed, and Hadhramaut was present with all its political, security and important service needs.

We sought honesty, seriousness, and everything that bodes well for the promising future. God willing, these files will witness positive changes in the near future.

We, from Hadhramaut, will be nothing but a support and aid to these sincere intentions and to this wise Arab leadership in all calamities and tasks, in a way that serves everyone and achieves stability in all its political, security, and social forms.

We extend our sincere thanks and utmost respect to them for all the good treatment, reception, and appreciation we received, which expresses the depth of our shared fraternal bond.

May God protect the Kingdom, its leadership and people, represented by King Salman bin Abdulaziz, his loyal Crown Prince, His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman, and His Royal Highness Prince Khalid bin Salman, Minister of Defense.”

The meeting comes at a critical time for Yemen, as the country continues to navigate its complex political and security challenges. Hadhramaut, a historically significant and resource-rich region, has remained a focal point in discussions regarding stability and governance in Yemen.

Sheikh Amr’s statement reflects optimism about the future of Hadhramaut and Yemen as a whole, highlighting the potential for significant improvements in political and security matters. His expression of unwavering support for Saudi Arabia’s leadership underscores the deep-rooted ties between Yemen’s Hadhramaut region and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Political analysts view this meeting as a key step towards greater cooperation between Yemen’s tribal and regional leadership and Saudi authorities. With ongoing diplomatic efforts, the hope remains that such engagements will lead to tangible progress in addressing Yemen’s broader security and governance concerns.

Trump praised U.S. military forces for executing aerial attacks targeting the Houthis’ bases, leadership, and missile defenses.

The United States launched a series of airstrikes on Houthi-controlled areas in Yemen on Saturday, with President Donald Trump pledging to use “overwhelming lethal force” until the Iran-backed rebel group ceases its attacks on commercial and naval vessels in the region.

Trump also issued a stern warning to Iran, demanding that it withdraw support for the Houthis or face consequences. “We will hold Iran fully accountable for the actions of its proxy,” Trump declared.

Military Action and Presidential Statement

In a social media post, Trump praised U.S. military forces for executing aerial attacks targeting the Houthis’ bases, leadership, and missile defenses. He emphasized that the strikes were necessary to protect American interests and restore navigational freedom in the region.

“Our brave Warfighters are right now carrying out aerial attacks on the terrorists’ bases, leaders, and missile defenses to protect American shipping, air, and naval assets, and to restore Navigational Freedom,” Trump wrote. “No terrorist force will stop American commercial and naval vessels from freely sailing the Waterways of the World.”

The president announced the strikes while spending the day at his Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach, Florida.

Casualties and Damage

The first U.S. strikes since Trump’s return to office reportedly resulted in at least 31 deaths and 101 injuries, according to Houthi sources. The casualties are said to include women and children.

The strikes targeted multiple locations, including the capital city of Sanaa, the northern province of Saada, and military sites near the Sanaa airport. Additional attacks were reported in the provinces of Hodeida, Bayda, and Marib.

Images circulating on social media showed plumes of black smoke rising over the affected areas.

Reasons Behind the Airstrikes

The strikes follow the Houthis’ recent announcement that they would resume attacks on Israeli-linked vessels in retaliation for Israel’s blockade of Gaza. The group had warned of targeting vessels in the Red Sea, the Gulf of Aden, the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, and the Arabian Sea.

Since the start of the Israel-Hamas war in late 2023, the Houthis have been responsible for over 100 attacks on merchant vessels, sinking two ships and killing four sailors.

The United States, Israel, and the United Kingdom had previously conducted joint strikes against Houthi targets, but Saturday’s operation was executed solely by U.S. forces.

Houthi and Iranian Response

Nasruddin Amer, deputy head of the Houthi media office, vowed that the airstrikes would not deter their operations and warned of retaliation against the U.S. Mohamed Abdulsalam, a spokesperson for the group, dismissed Trump’s claims about threats to international shipping as “false and misleading.”

Iran, which has long provided financial and military support to the Houthis, has not yet issued an official response to the latest strikes.

Broader Implications

The airstrikes come amid escalating tensions between Washington and Tehran. Just two weeks ago, Trump sent a letter to Iranian leaders proposing a pathway for renewed negotiations on Iran’s nuclear program. The president has made clear that he will not allow Iran to develop a nuclear weapon, further raising the stakes in the region.

As the conflict in Yemen intensifies, the duration and extent of U.S. military action remain uncertain. A U.S. official, speaking to the Associated Press, confirmed that strikes will continue but provided no timeline for their conclusion.

“The Houthis will not abandon the Palestinian cause, regardless of any U.S., Israeli, or Western threats,” he said, adding that operations against Israel will continue.

Yemen is ready with all defensive options to respond to any American, Israeli or Western hostile moves, he said.

“Yemen is concerned in protecting international maritime navigation in accordance with international laws and norms,” al-Qahoum said.

Earlier in the day, the U.S. military said attacks from Houthi-controlled Yemen struck two Liberian-flagged ships in the Bab al-Mandab Strait, underlining the threat to vessels in shipping lanes being targeted by the Iran-aligned group.

Part of the Iran-aligned “Axis of Resistance”, the Houthis have been attacking vessels in Red Sea shipping lanes and firing drones and missiles at Israel.

The Houthis, who rule much of Yemen, have said they will continue their attacks until Israel stops its offensive in the Gaza Strip.

The Houthis earlier said they hit a Norwegian commercial tanker with a missile in their latest protest against Israel’s bombardment of Gaza, underlining the risks of a conflict that has shaken the Middle East.

In addition to avoid heading toward the Palestinian territories, ships that pass Yemen should keep radios turned on, and quickly respond to Houthi attempts at communication, Mohamed Ali al-Houthi, head of Yemen’s Houthi supreme revolutionary committee, said in a message on the X social media platform.

Al-Houthi also warned cargo ships against “falsifying their identity” or raising flags different from the country belonging to cargo ship owner.

The Iran-aligned group attacked the tanker, the STRINDA, because it was delivering crude oil to an Israeli terminal and after its crew ignored all warnings, Houthi military spokesperson Yehia Sarea had previously said in a statement.

The Houthis have waded into the Israel-Hamas conflict – which has spread around the region – attacking vessels in vital shipping lanes and firing drones and missiles at Israel more than 1,000 miles from their seat of power in the Yemeni capital of Sanaa.

The Iran-aligned group attacked the tanker, the STRINDA, because it was delivering crude oil to an Israeli terminal and after its crew ignored all warnings, Houthi military spokesperson Yehia Sarea said in a statement.

But the tanker’s owner, Norway’s Mowinckel Chemical Tankers, said the vessel was headed to Italy with a cargo of biofuel feedstock, not crude oil. But it did acknowledge a tentative Israeli port call scheduled for January, details it had not offered in the immediate hours after the attack in the Red Sea.

“Upon the recommendation of our security advisors, it was decided to withhold this information until the vessel and her crew were in safe waters,” the company said in a statement.

Following the attack, Israel’s military said it had deployed one of its most advanced warships, a Sa’ar 6 class corvette, in the Red Sea.

The U.S. Navy destroyer Mason responded to the STRINDA’s distress calls and assisted the crew, which was grappling with a fire, the U.S. military said. It said the STRINDA was struck on Monday night by a land-based cruise missile fired from Houthi-controlled Yemen.

“The actions that we’ve seen by these Houthis forces are destabilizing, they’re dangerous,” Pentagon spokesperson Major General Patrick Ryder told a press conference on Tuesday.

“So, this is an international problem that requires an international solution,” Ryder said. U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin would be travelling to the Middle East next week, including to Israel, Qatar and Bahrain, he said.

The Houthis have waded into the Israel-Hamas conflict – which has spread around the region – attacking vessels in vital shipping lanes and firing drones and missiles at Israel more than 1,000 miles from their seat of power in the Yemeni capital of Sanaa.

On Saturday, they said they would target all ships heading to Israel, regardless of their nationality, and warned international shipping companies against dealing with Israeli ports.

Gaza War Ripples Through Region

The Gaza conflict has already spread to other parts of the region, with Israel and Lebanon’s Hezbollah trading fire and Iranian-backed militias attacking bases of U.S. forces in Iraq.

French frigate FREMM Languedoc intercepted and destroyed a drone that was threatening the STRINDA in a complex aerial attack originating from Yemen, the French defence ministry said in a statement on Tuesday.

The STRINDA had loaded vegetable oil and biofuels in Malaysia and was headed for Venice, data from shiptracking firm Kpler showed. Italian energy firm Eni confirmed the ship was carrying 15 thousand tons of residues and waste from vegetable oil processing destined for Eni’s biorefineries in Italy.

Houthi officials did not immediately respond to a request for comment. There was no immediate comment from the Israeli government.

The Houthi spokesman said the group would continue blocking ships heading to Israeli ports until Israel allows the entry of food and medical aid into the Gaza Strip. Israel denies restricting the entry of food, water, medicines and shelter into the Gaza Strip, which its forces have bombarded in retaliation against Hamas for the Oct. 7 attack.

US Ship Responds To Strinda

Norway’s deputy foreign minister Eivind Vad Petersson said in a statement: “Norway condemns in the strongest possible terms all attacks on civilian shipping.”

The attack took place about 60 nautical miles (111 km) north of the Bab al-Mandab Strait connecting the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden at about 2100 GMT, a U.S. official told Reuters. A second U.S. official said the STRINDA was able to move under its own power in the hours after the attack.

“There were no U.S. ships in the vicinity at the time of the attack, but the (U.S. Navy destroyer) USS MASON responded to the M/T STRINDA’s mayday call,” the U.S. military’s Central Command, which oversees American forces in the Middle East, said in a statement posted on social media platform X.

The attack caused damage but no casualties, the U.S. military said.

The Houthi spokesman said that the group had managed to obstruct the passage of several ships in recent days, acting in support of the Palestinians.

The Houthis are one of several groups in the Iran-aligned “Axis of Resistance” that have been taking aim at Israeli and U.S. targets.

During the first week of December, three commercial vessels came under attack in international waters, prompting a U.S. Navy destroyer to intervene.

Last month the Houthis also seized a British-owned cargo ship that had links with an Israeli company.

The United States and Britain have condemned the attacks on shipping, blaming Iran for its role in supporting the Houthis. Tehran says its allies make their decisions independently.

Saudi Arabia has asked the United States to show restraint in responding to the attacks.