Saudi Arabia activated early warning systems in three southern cities on Tuesday after the Iran-backed Houthis launched a barrage of missile and drone attacks on the kingdom earlier in the day, wounding 73 people, as tensions flare between the group and the kingdom.

What happened: Saudi Arabia's Civil Defense issued warnings for the three southwestern towns on Tuesday,  asking people to take shelter and avoid open areas. The civil defense agency did not specify what prompted the warnings and later said that the danger had passed. 

The country's foreign ministry said earlier on Tuesday that the attacks targeted “civilian and economic assets” in Abha, Khamis Mushait, Jazan and Najran. The ministry said they injured 73 civilians, including women and children. 

The Saudi-led coalition, a military alliance formed in 2015 to support Yemen’s internationally recognized government against the Houthis, described the attacks as a “dangerous escalation.” In a statement published on X Tuesday, coalition spokesperson Maj. Gen. Turki al-Maliki said the coalition would “take all necessary operational measures to deter this terrorist militia and resolutely confront its hostile approach.”