The latest attacks by the Houthis on Saudi Arabia represent a “dangerous escalation,” the spokesperson for the Saudi-led coalition supporting legitimacy in Yemen said Tuesday, warning that the coalition would take necessary measures to deter the group and confront what he described as its “hostile approach.”
Turki Al-Maliki said in a statement carried by the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) that Houthi attacks targeted civilian and economic sites in the cities of Abha, Khamis Mushait, Jazan and Najran, injuring 73 civilians, including women and children, according to the statement.
Al-Maliki described the attacks as a “violation of the Kingdom’s sovereignty and a direct threat to the security and safety of its citizens and residents,” accusing the Houthis of deliberately targeting civilian facilities and assets and damaging Saudi resources.
He added that the coalition’s Joint Forces Command would take “necessary operational measures” to deter the Houthis, defend Saudi sovereignty and protect citizens and residents. He said the coalition would take “all necessary measures and actions to respond to the sources of the threat and neutralize the danger they pose,” without specifying the nature of those measures.
Meanwhile, the Saudi Foreign Ministry strongly condemned the Houthi targeting of civilian and economic assets in Abha, Khamis Mushait, Jazan and Najran, as well as the continued targeting of commercial vessels in the Red Sea and threats to international freedom of navigation.
The ministry said the attacks injured 73 civilians, including women and children, reiterating the Kingdom’s rejection of the Houthis’ “hostile approach and criminal conduct.” It accused the group of threatening the security and stability of Yemen and its Arab and Islamic surroundings and rejecting peace efforts.
Saudi Arabia reaffirmed its right to take “all necessary measures” to defend its sovereignty, protect its national assets and safeguard its citizens and residents, stressing that it “will not tolerate any attack” targeting its territory or resources in accordance with international law.
The Kingdom warned against continued attacks on civilians and civilian facilities and threats to maritime navigation, calling for an immediate halt to all forms of escalation. It also urged the international community to assume its responsibilities and implement relevant UN Security Council resolutions, particularly Resolution 2216, adopted in 2015, and Resolution 2722, adopted in 2024.
The Saudi Energy Ministry also announced that a number of energy-sector facilities and installations in the southern region of the Kingdom had been targeted, causing fires and a temporary halt to some operations.
A ministry official said relevant authorities had begun responding to the attacks, while specialized field teams were working to contain the fires, secure the sites and assess the damage.
The attacks also resulted in several citizens and residents sustaining injuries of varying severity, the official said, adding that the injured were receiving the necessary medical care.
The official confirmed that assessment and follow-up efforts were continuing, along with measures to ensure the safety of facilities and workers and maintain operations in line with approved operational plans.
