Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi fighters have intensified attacks on Saudi Arabia’s border and southern cities and commercial shipping in the Red Sea. At least 73 people, including women and children, have been injured in the recent attacks, after which Saudi Arabia and the military coalition have announced a strong and decisive response to these attacks.
Houthi fighters have directly targeted civilian and economic installations in various cities in Saudi Arabia, especially Abha, Khamis Mushait, Jizan and Najran. According to a report by the Financial Times, the facilities of the world’s largest oil exporter, Saudi Aramco, located in Jizan, have also been targeted, where authorities are assessing the extent of the damage.
The Houthis have launched a series of attacks on commercial and Saudi ships in the Red Sea since announcing a naval blockade against Saudi Arabia in July.
In a statement on X (formerly Twitter), Colonel Turki al-Maliki, the spokesman for the Saudi-led military coalition in Yemen, described the recent developments as a severe and “dangerous escalation” and said that the Houthis had targeted the country’s economic and civilian infrastructure.
The spokesman said that the coalition would take all necessary military measures to stop the advance of these terrorist militias and completely eliminate their aggressive behavior, and that the attacks would be met with a “decisive response.”
The Saudi Foreign Ministry strongly condemned these criminal attacks by the Houthis, confirming the injuries of 73 civilians. The statement said that the Houthi militia is not only endangering the security of Saudi Arabia and its Arab and Islamic neighbors, but has also become a major challenge to international maritime traffic and trade.
The Foreign Ministry clarified that Saudi Arabia has the full right to take all legitimate and necessary measures under international law to defend its sovereignty, national resources, citizens and resident foreigners.
The Saudi administration has expressed regret over the Houthis’ rejection of all peace efforts and warned that continuing attacks on innocent civilians will have very serious consequences. Saudi Arabia has called on the Houthis to immediately end the tension, while urging the international community and the United Nations Security Council to fulfill their responsibilities and ensure the immediate implementation of relevant Security Council resolutions.
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