Saudi Arabia in September 2026: the most important developments in security
In September 2026 Saudi Arabia faced a sustained campaign of Houthi missile and drone attacks. The Houthis captured Perim island and other positions at the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, and by 14 September a Houthi official claimed full control of the strait; nearly 50,000 Yemeni civilians fled as Houthi forces advanced along the Red Sea coast. On 12 September a Houthi projectile injured two people and damaged a mosque in Jazan, and the Houthis claimed attacks on a base in southern Saudi Arabia and on King Khalid Air Base. Houthi attacks on 15 September injured 13 civilians, and alerts were issued for Mecca, Jeddah and Taif.
On 16 September Saudi Arabia said it intercepted a drone south of Mecca, the first red alert at Islam's holiest site; Riyadh called it a red line and the Houthis denied targeting Mecca. On 19 and 20 September smoke was seen near Riyadh airport as the Houthis claimed attacks on the kingdom and fired missiles and drones at Riyadh, which the Saudi-led coalition said it intercepted. On 26 September the coalition said it intercepted Houthi drones and missiles aimed at Riyadh and Khamis Mushait, and Egypt condemned attacks on Taif and Yanbu. One person was killed by debris from an intercepted drone, and five people were killed as both sides traded attacks. Saudi Arabia struck Houthi positions in Yemen; the Houthis said it carried out more than 50 strikes in 24 hours.
Foreign support grew. The United States told the crown prince it would provide intelligence and targeting help, established a joint command centre in Saudi Arabia, and was reported to be sending more than 100 military advisers, although Donald Trump said the Houthis don't want to fight and declined to assist in the Red Sea. The State Department approved a possible sale of 48 F-35 jets worth about $24.3 billion. The UK sent RAF refuelling support, and Emmanuel Macron announced French military means to protect Saudi Arabia's Red Sea oil port. Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Pakistan held urgent military talks under the Mecca defence pact, and the Grand Mufti called on troops to fight the Houthis.
by WorldBrief & Maksim Micheliov | AI-generated summary
Click a day in the chart above for that day's brief.