Updated

The Houthis fired ballistic missiles at Riyadh, reportedly striking a fuel depot near the capital's airport, while Saudi air defenses said they intercepted other missiles and a drone aimed near Mecca. The Houthis declared a 'blockade for blockade' policy against Saudi Arabia, vowing further strikes while insisting US ships would not be targeted, and claimed Saudi forces conducted 28 air strikes on Taiz, Al-Jawf and Marib in one 24-hour period. Saudi Arabia has struggled to formulate a clear response despite Trump rebuffing requests for direct US intervention, prompting Riyadh to seek support elsewhere, including Turkey studying military assistance under a trilateral defense pact and renewed controversy over a potential US F-35 sale. The crisis has rattled regional security and markets: BBC Verify tracked wreckage of a downed Saudi F-15, the US restricted employee travel to Taif and Yanbu, oil prices climbed amid fears of a wider Saudi oil crisis, and QatarEnergy warned expansion projects could be delayed by the related Strait of Hormuz disruptions. Qatar condemned the Houthi strikes as a violation of Saudi sovereignty, while analysts suggested Israel could see a strategic opening as Iran-aligned Houthi pressure exposes gaps in Saudi Arabia's traditional alliances.