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France pledges to defend key oil port  Middle East   Saudi Arabia intercepted Houthi ballistic missiles on Thursday after warning several regions, including Mecca, of possible attacks. France said it would send military assets to help protect the Saudi oil terminal at Yanbu. The strikes came amid renewed fighting in Yemen that has killed dozens, according to sources cited by AFP.   Issued on: 25/09/2026 - 01:34  Modified: 25/09/2026 - 07:17   (Reading time) (/build/images/svg/sprite.68b43361c11f23b39049016b32e6ae31.svg#icon-clock)    3 min Reading time   Share (/build/images/svg/sprite.68b43361c11f23b39049016b32e6ae31.svg#icon-share)      By:  (https://www.france24.com/en/author/france-24/) (FRANCE 24) FRANCE 24       (Armed Yemenis rally on the outskirts of the Houthi-controlled capital Sanaa, July 2, 2026.)  Armed Yemenis rally on the outskirts of the Houthi-controlled capital Sanaa, July 2, 2026        © Mohammed Huwais, AFP    (https://www.france24.com/en/tag/saudi-arabia/) Saudi Arabia intercepted Houthi ballistic missiles on Thursday after issuing warnings for several regions including (https://www.france24.com/en/tag/mecca/) Mecca , as (https://www.france24.com/en/tag/france/) France vowed to send "(https://www.france24.com/en/tag/military/) military means" to help shield the key Saudi oil terminal of Yanbu. The attacks were reported as fighting raged in (https://www.france24.com/en/tag/yemen/) Yemen between the Houthis and Riyadh-backed (https://www.france24.com/en/tag/government/) government forces, killing dozens of people on both sides, according to a tally from seven sources who spoke to AFP. The missiles were the latest in a series of escalating Houthi attacks since July, when renewed hostilities shattered a years-long (https://www.france24.com/en/tag/truce/) truce and embroiled Yemen in the wider (https://www.france24.com/en/tag/middle-east/) Middle East war. Since then, the Houthis have imposed a naval blockade on Saudi Arabia, hitting its tankers and territory and seizing swathes of Yemen's (https://www.france24.com/en/tag/red-sea/) Red Sea coast, which is vital for Saudi oil (https://www.france24.com/en/tag/exportation/) exports . Their gains cement the hold of Iran and its allies on the two waterways that the wider Gulf, including top crude exporter Saudi Arabia, relies on to ship out its oil and other fuel products. Iran’s Pezeshkian tells UN his country is ‘victim’ of US ‘terrorism’ To display this content from YouTube, you must enable advertisement tracking and audience measurement. Accept (/build/images/svg/sprite.68b43361c11f23b39049016b32e6ae31.svg#icon-check)    Manage my choices (/build/images/svg/sprite.68b43361c11f23b39049016b32e6ae31.svg#icon-edit)      One of your browser extensions seems to be blocking the video player from loading. To watch this content, you may need to disable it on this site. Try again   (Iran’s Pezeshkian tells UN his country is ‘victim’ of US ‘terrorism’)  Cover image:                    © France 24  (/build/images/svg/sprite.68b43361c11f23b39049016b32e6ae31.svg#icon-play)        09:30   (Iran’s Pezeshkian tells UN his country is ‘victim’ of US ‘terrorism’)     The Saudi-led (https://www.france24.com/en/tag/coalition/) coalition supporting Yemen's government since 2015 against the Houthis said six ballistic missiles had been intercepted, thwarting attacks on Taif and Yanbu. "Escalations and violations by the terrorist Houthi militia will be dealt with firmly," said coalition spokesman Turki al-Maliki on X. Earlier, the Saudi Civil Defence had issued a brief series of alerts including one for Mecca, home to (https://www.france24.com/en/tag/islam/) Islam 's holiest sites, with separate warnings for the Red Sea governorate of Yanbu as well as the Taif, Jeddah and Tabuk regions. The alerts were lifted a few minutes later. In recent weeks, alerts have often preceded attacks by the Houthis. (https://www.france24.com/en/tag/iran/) Iran 's President (https://www.france24.com/en/tag/masoud-pezeshkian/) Masoud Pezeshkian denied Thursday that Tehran was directing Houthi battle plans. "The Houthis are responsible for their own actions. They don't take directions from us as those who are resisting in the region, based on the situations that have been imposed on them," Pezeshkian told (https://www.france24.com/en/tag/fox-news/) Fox News , according to the broadcaster's translation of his remarks. With pressure mounting on Saudi Arabia, French President (https://www.france24.com/en/tag/emmanuel-macron/) Emmanuel Macron said France planned to "send military assets, meaning soldiers, radars and (https://www.france24.com/en/tag/defence/) defence systems to protect" Yanbu. The infrastructure in and around Yanbu forms a key node in Saudi Arabia's vast network of (https://www.france24.com/en/tag/energy/) energy installations. Yanbu serves as the kingdom's primary crude export terminal on the Red Sea and is connected to its oil-producing regions near the Gulf coast by the East-West pipeline, also known as Petroline. Yanbu is also home to major oil storage and refining facilities, while its location on the Red Sea provides Saudi Arabia with an alternative route for sending crude and petroleum products towards (https://www.france24.com/en/tag/european-markets/) European markets . To display this content from YouTube, you must enable advertisement tracking and audience measurement. Accept (/build/images/svg/sprite.68b43361c11f23b39049016b32e6ae31.svg#icon-check)    Manage my choices (/build/images/svg/sprite.68b43361c11f23b39049016b32e6ae31.svg#icon-edit)      One of your browser extensions seems to be blocking the video player from loading. To watch this content, you may need to disable it on this site. Try again   ()  Cover image:                    © France 24  (/build/images/svg/sprite.68b43361c11f23b39049016b32e6ae31.svg#icon-play)        02:41   (US President warns Tehran at UN but says talks ongoing)     Strategic hilltops  Last week, Riyadh accused the group of targeting Mecca for the first time since 2017 with a drone that was downed, an accusation the Houthis denied. A few days later, the group attacked the Saudi capital Riyadh – the first in years, marking a new escalation in the conflict. As the Houthi attacks targeted Saudi Arabia on Thursday, battles raged on the ground in Yemen. At least 150 Houthi fighters and government forces members have been killed in the past 24 hours, sources from both sides told AFP, including in clashes over hilltops overlooking the Bab al-Mandab strait at the mouth of the Red Sea. At least 98 soldiers and government forces members were killed, according to an AFP tally compiled from five military sources. Most were killed in Houthi ballistic missile and drone attacks, with dozens of Yemeni troops killed. The Houthis later claimed launching a complex barrage involving ballistic missiles and (https://www.france24.com/en/tag/drones/) drones to target command centres and weapons depots in southern Saudi Arabia, with the group saying Yemeni and Sudanese fighters were killed and injured in the attack along with Saudi personnel. The group also claimed late Thursday to have launched attacks across the border that targeted Aramco infrastructure in Yanbu and an unnamed site in Riyadh. At least 52 Houthi fighters were killed in other (https://www.france24.com/en/tag/clashes/) clashes , two sources from the group said. Many on both sides were also killed in clashes in the Kahboub Mountains and in areas between the Lahj and Taiz regions, as the Houthis seek to dominate the highlands overlooking Bab al-Mandab to protect newly seized territory. In July, a fragile 2022 truce between the Houthis and Yemen's government fell apart after the group allowed an Iranian plane to land in (https://www.france24.com/en/tag/sanaa/) Sanaa in defiance of Riyadh's control over Yemeni airspace, setting off a spate of attacks. (FRANCE 24 with AFP)     Read next   (https://www.france24.com/en/middle-east/20260922-middle-east-live-yemen-fighting-escalates-as-trump-heads-to-un) (United States President Donald Trump prepares to deliver remarks during the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly.)   (https://www.france24.com/en/middle-east/20260922-middle-east-live-yemen-fighting-escalates-as-trump-heads-to-un) (Trump says envoys Witkoff, Kushner met with mediators on potential Iran deal) Trump says envoys Witkoff, Kushner met with mediators on potential Iran deal   As it happened  Middle East    (https://www.france24.com/en/middle-east/20260917-middle-east-live-paris-talks-lebanese-army-unifil-israel-iran-yemen) (FILE - Iran President Masoud Pezeshkian addresses the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly, Wednesday, Sept. 24, 2025.)   (https://www.france24.com/en/middle-east/20260917-middle-east-live-paris-talks-lebanese-army-unifil-israel-iran-yemen) (US allows Iranian delegation to attend UN General Assembly) US allows Iranian delegation to attend UN General Assembly   As it happened  Middle East          Today's top stories   (https://www.france24.com/en/europe/20260925-live-pope-france-first-state-visit-18-years) (Live: Pope heads to France on first state visit in 18 years) Live: Pope heads to France on first state visit in 18 years  Live  Europe     (https://www.france24.com/en/middle-east/20260924-live-iran-s-president-says-us-must-choose-whether-to-end-war) (Live:  Iran's President says US ‘must choose’ whether to end war) Live:  Iran's President says US ‘must choose’ whether to end war  Live  Middle East     (https://www.france24.com/en/americas/20260923-trump-hails-great-friendship-with-xi-at-start-of-white-house-state-visit) (Trump hails 'great friendship' with Xi at start of White House state visit) Trump hails 'great friendship' with Xi at start of White House state visit   Americas     (https://www.france24.com/en/europe/20260924-schism-ultra-conservative-rebel-sect-sspx-pope-leo-visit-france-catholics-lourdes) (Schism with rebel Catholic sect casts a pall over Pope Leo’s visit to France) Schism with rebel Catholic sect casts a pall over Pope Leo’s visit to France   Europe     (https://www.france24.com/en/americas/20260924-us-judge-lifts-trump-s-white-house-ban-on-cnn-ms-now-politico) (Politico, CNN and MS ​NOW return to White House hours after judge reorders Trump to lift ban) Politico, CNN and MS ​NOW return to White House hours after judge reorders Trump to lift ban   Americas        Advertising (Report this ad) (/build/images/svg/sprite.68b43361c11f23b39049016b32e6ae31.svg#icon-report-ad)           Most read   1 (https://www.france24.com/en/france/20260922-macron-urges-world-stand-firm-against-abuse-of-power-by-empires-final-un-speech) Macron urges world to 'stand firm' against 'abuse of power by empires' in final UN speech    France       2 (https://www.france24.com/en/europe/20260922-ladin-dolomites-villages-refuse-to-give-up-on-ancient-language) Ladin: Dolomites villages refuse to give up on ancient language   On the ground  Europe   (/build/images/svg/sprite.68b43361c11f23b39049016b32e6ae31.svg#icon-play)        3 (https://www.france24.com/en/americas/20260923-live-pezeshkian-set-to-address-un-for-the-first-time-since-us-israel-launched-iran-war) AI leaders warn UN Security Council of risk to ‘humanity as a whole’ without regulation   As it happened  Americas       4 (https://www.france24.com/en/africa/20260923-never-heard-eswatini-deported-by-us-country-that-rejects-them-forbidden-stories) ‘I had never heard of Eswatini’: Deported by the US to a country that rejects them   Investigation  Africa       5 (https://www.france24.com/en/americas/20260924-live-netanyahu-faces-un-over-gaza-as-abbas-set-to-address-assembly-by-video) France to send 'military means' to protect key Saudi oil port    Americas       6 (https://www.france24.com/en/middle-east/20260923-israel-blasts-grotesque-absurdity-of-macron-s-un-remarks-on-west-bank) Israel blasts ‘grotesque absurdity’ of Macron’s UN remarks on West Bank    Middle East   (/build/images/svg/sprite.68b43361c11f23b39049016b32e6ae31.svg#icon-play)          Keywords for this article (https://www.france24.com/en/tag/france/) (France) France  (https://www.france24.com/en/tag/saudi-arabia/) (Saudi Arabia) Saudi Arabia  (https://www.france24.com/en/tag/yemen/) (Yemen) Yemen  (https://www.france24.com/en/tag/houthi-rebels/) (Houthi rebels) Houthi rebels  (https://www.france24.com/en/tag/iran-conflict/) (Iran war) Iran war  (https://www.france24.com/en/tag/emmanuel-macron/) (Emmanuel Macron) Emmanuel Macron       Happening now (https://www.france24.com/en/tag/usa/) USA  (https://www.france24.com/en/tag/united-nations/) UN  (https://www.france24.com/en/tag/diplomacy/) diplomacy  (https://www.france24.com/en/tag/france/) France  (https://www.france24.com/en/tag/artificial-intelligence/) Artificial intelligence    International (https://www.france24.com/en/tag/usa/) USA  (https://www.france24.com/en/tag/united-kingdom/) United Kingdom  (https://www.france24.com/en/tag/canada/) Canada  (https://www.france24.com/en/tag/australia/) Australia  (https://www.france24.com/en/tag/germany/) Germany  (https://www.france24.com/en/tag/india/) India  (https://www.france24.com/en/tag/netherlands/) Netherlands  (https://www.france24.com/en/tag/south-africa/) South Africa  (https://www.france24.com/en/tag/italy/) Italy      About France 24 (https://www.france24.com/en/about-us) Who are we?  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