Coverage dated September 16, 2026 to September 22, 2026

As US steers clear of Yemen fight, the Iran-backed Houthis launch next phase of campaign

Headline from KION Central Coast, from the development of Sep 21, 2026

Newest development Sep 22, 2026 · 3 reportsHouthis pressing to control highlands

By Tim Lister (CNN) — In the last month, Iran-backed Houthi militants in Yemen have joined the Middle East conflict in dramatic fashion – capturing a swathe of the Red Sea coastline, sending missiles and drones against Saudi energy infrastructure and even targeting the Saudi capital Riyadh on the we…

KION Central Coast's own description from its feed. We collect headlines and these descriptions, not full articles; read the original reporting below.

Earlier updates in this story

Developments in this update

6 dated developments, oldest first, newest marked. Each is named by one outlet's own headline; open its reports to see every outlet that covered it.

  1. Saudi Arabia confirms Yemen's Houthi rebels tried to attack its capital with a ballistic missile

    Headline from ABC 13 Houston ·

  2. Iran-backed Houthi rebels warn against joining Saudi Arabia in Yemen's growing civil war

    Headline from Pittsburgh Post-Gazette ·

  3. Names this update

    As US steers clear of Yemen fight, the Iran-backed Houthis launch next phase of campaign

    Headline from KION Central Coast ·

  4. Despite military might, Saudi struggles to crush the Houthis

    Headline from WFMZ Allentown ·

  5. G7 foreign ministers demand Houthis halt strikes on Saudi Arabia

    Headline from Al Jazeera ·

  6. Newest

    Houthis pressing to control highlands

    Headline from Arkansas Democrat-Gazette ·

6 reports not tied to one development ·

Read the reports

Reports & sources

96 articles, oldest first.

  1. The Hill

    Trump is hands-off on Houthis and the Saudis aren't happy (opens The Hill)

    Published

    The Hill's feed description

    Welcome to The Hill's Defense & NatSec newsletter {beacon} Defense &National Security Defense &National Security The Big Story Trump is hands-off on Houthis and the Saudis aren't happy President Trump is taking a notably hands-off approach as Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen rapidly gain ground in…

  2. Al Jazeera

    Houthis accuse Saudi Arabia of launching 26 strikes in 24 hours (opens Al Jazeera)

    Published

    Al Jazeera's feed description

    The war in Yemen intensifies with mounting clashes and reciprocal attacks between Saudi forces and the Houthis.

  3. Just the News

    Houthis launch strikes against 'sensitive sites' in Riyadh (opens Just the News)

    Published

    Just the News's feed description

    “In response to the Saudi enemy’s criminal attempts to target the capital Sanaa… the Yemeni Armed Forces carried out two successful military operations using a large number of ballistic and cruise missiles and drones,” said Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree.

  4. Bloomberg

    Saudi Arabia Issues Rare Air-Raid Alerts for Riyadh (opens Bloomberg)

    Published

    Bloomberg's feed description

    Saudi Arabian authorities issued air-raid alerts for Riyadh early Saturday, the first in the capital since the height of the US-Iran war in March and April.

  5. WFMZ Allentown

    Saudi Arabia issues alerts across the country for aerial threat, and other Mideast developments (opens WFMZ Allentown)

    Published

    WFMZ Allentown's feed description

    Saudi Arabia warned of a “hostile aerial threat” and issued a string of emergency alerts across the kingdom, including in its capital, late Friday and early Saturday.

  6. The New Yorker

    Why the Houthis Are Saudi Arabia’s Problem (opens The New Yorker)

    Published

    The New Yorker's feed description

    The U.S. opted not to intervene as Yemen’s Houthi rebels seized a major choke point for Saudi oil shipments on the Red Sea.

  7. Al-Monitor

    Saudi-led coalition says Houthis fired ballistic missile at Riyadh (opens Al-Monitor)

    Published

    Al-Monitor's feed description

    The Saudi-led coalition fighting Yemen's Houthis said Saturday that the Iran-backed group fired a ballistic missile at Riyadh at dawn, after a fire broke out near the Saudi capital's international airport.

  8. Al-Monitor

    Saudi capital issues first air raid alert since renewed fighting in Yemen (opens Al-Monitor)

    Published

    Al-Monitor's feed description

    Saudi authorities issued their first air raid alert in the capital since fighting returned to neighbouring Yemen, leaving residents of Riyadh rattled after they heard explosions ringing out in the early hours of Saturday.

  9. Al-Monitor

    Black smoke, flames rising near Riyadh airport: residents to AFP (opens Al-Monitor)

    Published

    Al-Monitor's feed description

    Black smoke and flames rose near Riyadh's international airport on Saturday, as a flight tracking website reported cancellations and delays at the hub, hours after Saudi authorities issued an air raid alert.

  10. Al-Monitor

    Fire erupts near Riyadh airport as Houthis claim strikes (opens Al-Monitor)

    Published

    Al-Monitor's feed description

    Black smoke and flames rose near Riyadh's international airport on Saturday, as Yemen's Houthis announced they had carried out strikes on targets in the Saudi capital and coastal oil facilities. Firefighters extinguished a blaze on a fuel tank with the logo of the Saudi oil giant Aramco at a fuel de…

  11. Philadelphia Inquirer

    Saudi Arabia issues air raid alerts across the country, and other Mideast developments (opens Philadelphia Inquirer)

    Published

    Philadelphia Inquirer's feed description

    Saudi Arabia has issued a string of emergency alerts across the kingdom after warning of a “hostile aerial threat” late Friday and early Saturday

  12. Al-Monitor

    Smoke visible near Riyadh airport after Saudi Arabia issues all-clear (opens Al-Monitor)

    Published

    Al-Monitor's feed description

    RIYADH, Sept 19 (Reuters) - A large plume of smoke was visible near Riyadh's main airport on Saturday after booms were heard and Saudi Arabia sent alerts overnight warning of potential danger around the capital, amid an escalation in attacks by Yemen's Houthi group.

  13. Al-Monitor

    Flames, smoke seen near Riyadh airport; Houthis claim attacks on Saudi capital (opens Al-Monitor)

    Published

    Al-Monitor's feed description

    RIYADH, Sept 19 (Reuters) - Yemen's Houthis said they attacked "sensitive" sites in the Saudi capital Riyadh on Saturday with missiles and drones, hours after flames and a large plume of smoke were seen near the city's main airport.

  14. Al-Monitor

    Flames, smoke seen near Riyadh airport after Saudi warning of aerial attack threat (opens Al-Monitor)

    Published

    Al-Monitor's feed description

    RIYADH, Sept 19 (Reuters) - A large plume of smoke was visible near Riyadh's main airport on Saturday after booms were heard and Saudi Arabia sent alerts overnight warning of potential danger around the capital, amid an escalation in attacks by Yemen's Houthi group.

  15. France 24

    Smoke, flames seen near Riyadh airport, ‘major’ flight disruptions reported (opens France 24)

    Published

    France 24's feed description

    A plume of smoke and flames rose near Riyadh's main international airport on Saturday and residents reported hearing loud booms hours after Saudi authorities issued the first alert for the country's capital since the latest escalation with Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi rebels.

  16. BBC News

    Smoke seen near Riyadh airport after air raid alerts in Saudi capital (opens BBC News)

    Published

    BBC News's feed description

    A number of apparent explosions have been heard and major disruption reported at the airport.

  17. Wall Street Journal

    Air Attack Sets Fuel Depot Ablaze at Airport in Saudi Capital (opens Wall Street Journal)

    Published

    Wall Street Journal's feed description

    The assault came as the kingdom has been targeted by Yemen’s Houthi rebels and by drones from Iraq.

  18. End Time Headlines

    Saudi authorities issue emergency alerts as several explosions rattled parts of Riyadh (opens End Time Headlines)

    Published

    End Time Headlines's feed description

    Saudi Arabia issued air-raid alerts for Riyadh overnight Friday into Saturday — the first such warnings in the capital since Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthis escalated attacks and declared a maritime embargo on the kingdom in July.

  19. Deutsche Welle

    Saudi Arabia: Plume of black smoke near Riyadh airport (opens Deutsche Welle)

    Published

    Deutsche Welle's feed description

    Smoke was seen billowing from a location near the main airport in Riyadh following overnight warnings of an aerial threat.

  20. Deutsche Welle

    Saudi Arabia: Houthis claim strikes on Riyadh, Yanbu port (opens Deutsche Welle)

    Published

    Deutsche Welle's feed description

    The Yemen-based Houthis said they targeted "sensitive sites" in Riyadh, hours after a blaze at a fuel depot near the Saudi capital's main airport.

  21. The Guardian

    Thick smoke seen near Riyadh airport after air-raid alerts in Saudi capital (opens The Guardian)

    Published

    The Guardian's feed description

    Authorities also issued warnings for Jeddah and Yanbu, a major industrial port and home to vital oil facilities Flames and a large plume of black smoke were seen rising above Riyadh airport in Saudi Arabia on Saturday after the government sent air-raid alerts to citizens by phone overnight warning o…

  22. Philadelphia Inquirer

    Saudi Arabia issues first alert in the capital since escalation, and other Mideast developments (opens Philadelphia Inquirer)

    Published

    Philadelphia Inquirer's feed description

    Saudi Arabia has issued emergency alerts across the kingdom for a “hostile aerial threat,” including the first alert in its capital since an escalation in fighting with Iran-backed rebels in Yemen

  23. France 24

    Black smoke seen near Riyadh amid air raid alerts in Saudi Arabia (opens France 24)

    Published

    France 24's feed description

    ⁠Flames and plumes of smoke ‌were ⁠seen ‌rising near ⁠Riyadh airport this afternoon with flights cancelled and delayed. This as fighting between Saudi-backed government forces and Iran-backed Houthi rebels has killed 48 people in recent hours.

  24. New York Post

    Saudi-Houthi conflict escalates with attack near Riyadh airport (opens New York Post)

    Published

    New York Post's feed description

    Overnight strikes on Riyadh have escalated the conflict between the Saudis and the Houthis, with oil spiking and fears the regional conflict will spiral still further out of control.

  25. Honolulu Star-Advertiser

    Flames, smoke seen near Riyadh airport as Houthis attack Saudi capital (opens Honolulu Star-Advertiser)

    Published

    Honolulu Star-Advertiser's feed description

    RIYADH, Suadia Arabia >> Yemen’s Houthis said they attacked “sensitive” sites in the Saudi capital Riyadh today with missiles and drones, hours after flames and a large plume of smoke were seen near the city’s main airport.

Showing the first 25 of 69 headlines. ·

Identical headlines usually mean shared wire copy. They are counted as separate articles but are not independent confirmation.