Daijiworld Media Network - Riyadh
Riyadh, Sep 8: The Saudi-led coalition supporting Yemen's internationally recognised government on Tuesday described recent attacks by the Houthi group targeting Saudi Arabia as a dangerous escalation, warning that necessary measures would be taken to counter the threat.
Coalition spokesperson Turki Al-Maliki, in a post on X, said the Houthis' attempts to target Saudi Arabia, its national assets, citizens and residents reflected what he termed a "hostile and irresponsible approach."
According to Al-Maliki, the latest attacks targeted civilian and economic sites in Abha, Khamis Mushait, Jazan and Najran, leaving 73 civilians injured, including women and children, Xinhua News Agency reported.
He said the attacks violated Saudi Arabia's sovereignty and posed a direct threat to the security and safety of citizens and residents.
Al-Maliki added that the coalition's Joint Forces Command would take necessary operational measures to deter the Houthis, respond to the sources of the threats and neutralise the danger.
The Houthis, meanwhile, claimed on Tuesday that they had targeted multiple 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 claims were reported by Houthi-run media outlet Ansarollah.
The latest escalation follows accusations by the Houthis on Monday that Saudi Arabia had carried out airstrikes and cruise missile attacks across several provinces in Yemen, as fighting involving government forces intensified on multiple fronts.
Houthi-affiliated Al-Masirah TV reported that Saudi forces had targeted Al-Jawf, Al-Bayda, Marib and Taiz with several airstrikes and cruise missiles. It did not provide details of casualties or damage.
Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Sarea also claimed that the group had shot down a Saudi CH-4 reconnaissance drone over Khabb wa ash-Sha'af district in northern Yemen's Al-Jawf province on Monday.
The competing claims come amid renewed escalation in the long-running Yemen conflict, with both sides accusing the other of carrying out attacks and threatening civilian and strategic targets.