Houthis Strike Saudi Arabia for Second Straight Day
News Desk
Riyadh: Yemen’s Houthi rebels have launched missile attacks against southern Saudi Arabia for a second consecutive day, escalating tensions as fighting intensifies on multiple fronts in the region.
According to Saudi Civil Defense officials, a missile fired from Yemen struck Tuwal governorate in the southern Jazan region, injuring two people and causing extensive damage to a mosque, several buildings and vehicles.
A Houthi spokesperson, meanwhile, claimed that the group had targeted a military base in the Sharurah area of Najran.
UN Special Envoy for Yemen Hans Grundberg expressed concern over the latest escalation, warning that Yemen had entered a new and extremely dangerous phase of the conflict.
Fighting has also intensified on the internal Yemeni front, with the Houthis claiming to have gained full control of Taiz province. Footage broadcast on Yemeni television showed Houthi fighters carrying rifles on military vehicles and celebrating what they described as a victory.
The official Yemeni army, however, claimed it had destroyed a large Houthi military convoy in airstrikes. The army said the convoy, consisting of dozens of trucks carrying missiles and ammunition, was traveling from the coastal city of Al-Mukha toward the Houthi-controlled capital, Sana’a.
US media reports have also indicated that Saudi Arabia is considering a major unilateral military operation against the Houthis, with the US administration reportedly providing intelligence and assistance in identifying potential targets.
Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia has taken precautionary measures following drone attacks launched from Iraq. The Saudi Ministry of Energy temporarily suspended operations on the East-West oil pipeline, while the Foreign Ministry strongly condemned the attacks.
Riyadh reportedly refrained from immediate retaliatory action following a request from the Iraqi prime minister, a decision welcomed by the government in Baghdad.
Pakistan has also strongly condemned the attacks. A Foreign Office spokesperson said attacks against civilian infrastructure and violations of Saudi Arabia’s sovereignty were clear breaches of international law. Pakistan also reaffirmed its complete and unwavering support for Saudi Arabia’s security, safety and prosperity.
Calling for a diplomatic solution to the Yemen conflict, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said the country’s problems should be resolved through negotiations rather than military escalation. He also expressed Iran’s readiness to cooperate in efforts aimed at finding a political solution.
Baghaei said lasting regional peace depended on respect for Yemen’s sovereignty. At the same time, he blamed the United States for rising fuel prices and reiterated that Iran maintains control over the Strait of Hormuz.
He also warned that countries supporting resolutions against Iran would have to face the consequences, adding another layer of tension to an already volatile regional situation.
