Shocking Houthi Missile Strikes Hit Saudi Cities As Gulf Peace Talks Fail
Peace talks between Iran and Gulf Arab states failed on Tuesday, 15 September 2026, after Oman cancelled a scheduled meeting. Riyadh requested the postponement as Saudi civil defence sirens sounded in Jeddah, Mecca, Taif, and Yanbu.
- Oman cancelled the meeting between Iran and Gulf Arab states to resolve the Strait of Hormuz standoff.
- Saudi civil defence sirens sounded in Jeddah, Mecca, Taif, and Yanbu during the postponement.
- Houthi missiles and drones struck three cities, wounding 13 civilians.
Attacks and Casualties
Saudi spokesman Maj. Gen. Turki al-Malki reported that Houthi missiles and drones struck three cities, wounding 13 civilians. The Saudi-led coalition confirmed attacks on Khamis Mushait, Abha, and Taif. A resident in Khamis Mushait described hearing intense blasts and witnessing long-burning fires. Houthi forces claimed they fired dozens of projectiles at the King Khalid air base, targeting hangars, radar, runways, and ammunition depots in retaliation for hundreds of Saudi raids over five days. In response, the Houthi-run health ministry in Sanaa alleged that Saudi warplanes killed three people, including two children, in Taiz.
Regional Impact and Oil Routes
The conflict has expanded to the Red Sea, where the Houthis maintain control over Perim Island, Mocha, and significant portions of the Yemeni coast. This control, combined with the closure of the 1,200-kilometre East-West pipeline last Thursday due to suspected attacks by Iran-linked militias in Iraq, has effectively blocked Saudi Arabia's primary alternative oil export routes. Iran has maintained the closure of the Strait of Hormuz since 28 February.
International Response and Diplomatic Standoff
Washington has thus far declined requests for direct military intervention beyond intelligence sharing. President Trump confirmed discussions with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, noting that the Houthis had also reached out to request that the United States remain uninvolved. CENTCOM chief Adm. Brad Cooper met with the Crown Prince in Jeddah on Monday but made no public commitments regarding U.S. military assets. Oman’s foreign minister, Badr Albusaidi, postponed the talks in the interest of consensus, as Saudi Arabia sought amendments rejecting Iran's assertion that the strait is not an international waterway. Iranian spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei and Supreme National Security Council secretary Mohsen Rezaei indicated that Iran maintains its conditions for any negotiations. Meanwhile, the status of the Panamanian-flagged tanker El Gaia remains contested, with conflicting reports of mines, missile strikes, and damage resulting in two missing seafarers. The UN reports that 125,000 people have been displaced in Yemen this month, while Human Rights Watch has accused the Houthis of potential war crimes against commercial vessels.