Saudi Arabia has accused the Iran-backed armed group, Houthi in Yemen of a dangerous escalation, after a series of attacks targeting the kingdom.
The Saudi-led coalition supporting the internationally recognised government in Yemen today said, the Houthis targeted civilian and economic sites in the Saudi cities of Abha, Khamis Mushait, Jazan and Najran. Saudi-led coalition spokesperson Turki Al-Maliki said the attacks injured 73 civilians, including women and children, and amounted to a violation of Saudi Arabia’s sovereignty and a direct threat to the safety of its citizens and residents.
In a post on social media, Al-Maliki described the Houthi attacks as a hostile and irresponsible approach. He said, the coalition’s Joint Forces Command would take necessary operational measures to deter the group, respond to the sources of the threats and neutralise the danger.
The Houthis, meanwhile, said they had targeted several sites in Saudi Arabia, including Abha International Airport, King Khalid Air Base and facilities belonging to state-owned oil giant Aramco in Abha and Jizan.
The latest escalation follows accusations by the Houthis a day earlier that Saudi Arabia had carried out airstrikes and cruise-missile attacks across several provinces in Yemen, as fighting between the Houthis and government forces spread to multiple fronts.
