Houthi attack on Saudi Arabia wounds 11 civilians as Riyadh warns of wider threat
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A Houthi attack on southern Saudi Arabia’s Najran Province wounded 11 civilians on Thursday, including a 4-year-old child, a Saudi military spokesman said. Riyadh warned that intelligence points to imminent coordinated strikes by the Houthis and Iran-backed Iraqi militias on civilian infrastructure, including energy facilities, ports, and airports. The warning came even as Saudi Arabia prepared to sign a defence agreement with Turkey and Pakistan and continued to support de-escalation efforts with Iran.
The Attack
Yemen’s Houthis shelled southern Najran Province on Thursday, injuring eleven people, said Major General Turki al-Maliki, spokesman for the Saudi-led coalition. The wounded included seven Saudis, one Yemeni, two Egyptians, and one Pakistani, with a 4-year-old child suffering second-degree burns. Maliki accused the Iran-aligned group of indiscriminate shelling in violation of international law and said the coalition would continue to protect civilians. The Houthis and Iran did not immediately comment.
Saudi Warning and Security Push
A senior Saudi official, speaking anonymously, said Saudi, U.S., and Middle Eastern intelligence found that the Houthis and Iraqi militias under Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps supervision could soon launch coordinated attacks on Saudi civilian sites, including energy infrastructure, ports, and airports. The official warned the planned attacks may be intended to disrupt Riyadh’s ongoing mediation efforts with Iran, which he said were moving 'in the right direction.' Meanwhile, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and Pakistan are set to sign a defence agreement on Friday, with Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif already in the kingdom and Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan due to arrive Friday.
What's Next
The defence pact signing is set for Friday, with Turkish President Erdogan expected to arrive in Riyadh. It remains unclear whether the threatened coordinated attacks will proceed and how they might affect Saudi-Iran de-escalation talks.
2 sources
Houthi attack on Saudi Arabia wounds 11 civilians as Riyadh warns of wider threat
