Saudi Arabia’s king has condemned the Houthis as a “terrorist militia” following an alleged attempt to target the holy city of Makkah, describing the incident as a provocation to Muslims worldwide.
The king praised the country’s armed forces and security services for protecting Saudi territory and condemned the reported attack on the holy city.
The Houthis, meanwhile, accused Saudi Arabia of carrying out deadly air strikes that allegedly killed civilians and prison inmates as Riyadh seeks to counter the group’s expanding military operations in Yemen.
The Houthis’ recent advance along Yemen’s Red Sea coast has reportedly resulted in hundreds of deaths and raised concerns over international trade and shipping through the Bab al-Mandab Strait, a key global maritime route.
The fighting has also displaced thousands of people. The United Nations has warned that the number of internally displaced people could rise from more than 130,000 to over 230,000 in the coming months if the conflict intensifies.
The Houthi gains have increased concerns over control of major waterways in the region, including the Bab al-Mandab and Hormuz straits, which are important routes for global energy shipments.
Saudi Arabia, which supports Yemen’s internationally recognised government, has carried out air strikes against Houthi positions in an effort to contain the group’s advance.
The Houthis have responded with attacks on Saudi territory, including a strike targeting Riyadh, marking the first such attack on the capital in several years.
The escalation followed Saudi accusations that the Houthis had targeted Makkah, a claim the group denied.
In Yemen, the Houthis reported that an air strike on a prison killed nine detainees and alleged that separate strikes in Mocha and Al-Jawf killed civilians, including children.
The continuing violence has forced thousands of families to flee their homes, with many people being displaced for a second or third time.
Fighting between Houthi forces and Saudi-backed Yemeni forces has also resulted in significant casualties across several provinces, according to claims from both sides.
Saudi authorities issued a temporary warning to residents in southern areas near the Yemen border, advising people to remain indoors and avoid open spaces. The alert was later lifted.
Leaders of the Group of Seven countries called on the Houthis to immediately end military operations and stop threats and attacks against civilian shipping.
They also urged the group to return to the political process and called for an end to external military support for the Houthis.
The United Kingdom has agreed to provide defensive military assistance to Saudi Arabia, including air-to-air refuelling support for Saudi aircraft involved in defensive operations.
France has also pledged assistance to protect Saudi energy infrastructure while maintaining that its support would not involve direct participation in the conflict.
The Houthis have previously targeted energy facilities in Saudi Arabia, including infrastructure near the Red Sea.
Yemen’s government and Saudi leadership have also sought additional international support to counter the Houthi offensive.
The renewed fighting has raised concerns about another wave of displacement in Yemen. The United Nations has warned that up to 10,000 people could attempt to cross the Red Sea to Djibouti, while internal displacement could exceed 230,000.
More than 100,000 civilians have already been displaced inside Yemen, while others have attempted dangerous sea crossings to escape the violence.
Humanitarian officials have warned that an intensification of the conflict could trigger further large-scale displacement.
