Houthi Attacks Injure 73, Including Women and Children: Saudi Arabia

RIYADH: (News Desk) – Saudi Arabia says attacks by Yemen’s Houthi rebels on several Saudi cities have injured 73 people, including women and children.

Major General Turki bin Saleh al-Maliki, spokesman for the Saudi-led coalition in Yemen, said the attacks targeted the Saudi cities of Abha, Khamis Mushait, Jizan and Najran.

According to al-Maliki, the strikes targeted civilian and economic facilities. He said the coalition would take strong measures in response and adopt all necessary military steps to counter what he described as the Houthis’ aggressive actions.

The latest escalation comes as the Houthis accuse Saudi Arabia of conducting airstrikes against targets across Yemen.

The Houthi-controlled Saba news agency reported that Saudi forces carried out airstrikes and used cruise missiles against locations in Al-Jawf, Al-Bayda, Marib and Taiz provinces.

The Houthis also blamed Saudi Arabia for an airstrike on a prison in the northern city of Al-Hazm. They claimed the attack killed seven people, including a child, and wounded at least seven others, including a woman.

Anis Al-Asbahi, spokesman for the Houthi-controlled Health Ministry, said the alleged strike hit the Central Correctional Facility in Al-Jawf province. Houthi broadcaster Al-Masirah aired footage purportedly showing a collapsed building and people searching through the rubble.

Meanwhile, Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree accused Saudi Arabia of carrying out what he called “massacres” in Yemen. He alleged that Saudi aircraft had been conducting reconnaissance missions and supplying weapons to fighters supporting the Yemeni government.

Saree also claimed that Houthi forces had brought down four Saudi surveillance drones over the previous 24 hours, including a CH-4 drone. These claims could not be independently verified.

Saudi coalition spokesman al-Maliki said the joint command would take all necessary military measures to protect Saudi Arabia’s sovereignty, national assets, citizens and residents.

The escalation comes amid renewed fighting between the Houthis and forces aligned with Yemen’s internationally recognized government. The Houthis, who refer to themselves as Ansar Allah, are backed by Iran and control large parts of northern Yemen, including the capital Sanaa and areas along the Red Sea.

The conflict has raised fresh concerns over a broader escalation in the region. UN Special Envoy for Yemen Hans Grundberg has called on all sides to immediately halt hostilities and exercise maximum restraint, warning that the current tensions could develop into a wider war.