Saudi-Houthi conflict intensifies, putting Korean firms in the line of fire

The conflict between Saudi Arabia and the Houthi movement is escalating sharply as the two sides trade retaliatory strikes, with the fighting now threatening areas where South Korean companies operate.

Reuters reported Tuesday that two attacks on airports near the Yemeni border — in the Jizan and Najran regions — injured three people and caused material damage. Saudi Arabia's General Authority of Civil Aviation said it was assessing damage at King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz International Airport in Jizan and Najran International Airport, and was taking steps to ensure the safety of passengers, staff and air operations.

According to Iran's Press TV, Houthi spokesperson Brigadier General Yahya Sari issued a statement Tuesday saying the group had struck Saudi airports and oil refineries using ballistic missiles, cruise missiles and drones.

Sari said the Houthis first struck Riyadh's King Khalid International Airport directly, disrupting flight operations. In a second operation, the group attacked an Aramco refinery in Rabigh on the Red Sea coast, causing a fire at the scene. A third operation targeted Abha Airport in southwestern Saudi Arabia, the nearby Khamis Mushait Air Base, and military facilities in the Asir, Najran and Jizan regions. Sari said the group also struck other Saudi airports Tuesday, following similar attacks the previous day.

In response, Maj. Gen. Turki al-Maliki, spokesperson for the Saudi-led coalition in Yemen, said the coalition had intercepted and destroyed a ballistic missile the Houthis fired toward Khamis Mushait.

After pro-Iranian forces including the Houthis and Iraqi militant groups damaged key Saudi oil infrastructure — including the East-West Pipeline and refining facilities — Saudi Arabia organized a coalition and launched counterstrikes. The Houthis have since responded with drone strikes and other attacks concentrated on Saudi aviation facilities and other targets on the Saudi mainland, with the fighting now spreading to areas connected to South Korean businesses.

Among the targeted areas, Rabigh has deep ties to South Korea: GS Engineering & Construction won the contract in the 2010s to build the "Petro Rabigh" petrochemical complex operated by Saudi state oil company Aramco. Korea Electric Power Corporation also won a contract in 2009 to build and operate a 1,200-megawatt heavy-oil thermal power plant there.

More recently, Hyundai Motor Company has been building a factory at the King Salman Automotive Cluster, about 40 kilometers south of Rabigh. Construction workers commute from accommodations in Rabigh, and the refinery that was struck is about six to seven kilometers from their housing. According to Yonhap, a local resident said four drones attacked the refinery near the workers' accommodations — three were shot down and one hit its target. No casualties or damage at the construction site or among the workers were reported.

The Houthis said their principle of "escalation for escalation, siege for siege" remains in effect, warning that they will continue to strike back as long as Saudi attacks continue. They also warned that Saudi airspace — with the exception of the holy cities of Mecca and Medina — falls within their operational range.