Houthi cross-border attacks injure dozens of civilians in Saudi Arabia, coalition reports
The Saudi-led coalition in Yemen reported that recent Houthi attacks on southern Saudi provinces wounded 73 civilians, including women and children. The coalition spokesperson said the strikes targeted civilian and economic sites in Abha, Khamis Mushait, Jazan and Najran, calling it a dangerous escalation. The statement came amid intensified fighting between the Houthis and Saudi-backed Yemeni forces.
The coalition's statement, delivered by spokesperson Major-General Turki al-Maliki, did not specify the exact timing of the cross-border assaults. He framed the strikes as a direct challenge to the kingdom's security, warning that military responses would be directed at the origins of the attacks.
This announcement coincides with escalating ground combat across Yemeni provinces. Concurrently, the Houthis have alleged that a Saudi air raid on a detention center in al-Jawf killed seven people, including a minor, though Riyadh has not yet responded to that specific claim.
The renewed cross-border violence could heighten insecurity for residents in southern Saudi Arabia, disrupting daily life and local economies. Simultaneously, the reciprocal accusations between the coalition and Houthis may deepen the cycle of retaliation, potentially prolonging the conflict and worsening humanitarian conditions for civilians in Yemen, who already face significant strain from the ongoing war.