War with the Houthis: At least a dozen injured in Saudi Arabia

afp | More than a dozen people have been injured in new attacks by the pro-Iranian Houthis in Yemen against Saudi Arabia, according to a military coalition led by Riyadh. The militia carried out attacks on civilian targets in the cities of Khamis Mushait, Abha and Taif with several ballistic missiles and drones, the military coalition said on Tuesday in the online service X. As a result, 13 civilians suffered minor to moderate injuries. Seven houses and two cars were also damaged.

The Houthi militia had launched a large-scale offensive in recent days and conquered the entire Red Sea coast in fighting against Yemeni government troops. According to the Yemeni government, the militia now controls the Bab al-Mandab Strait, which is important for global trade and connects the Gulf of Aden with the Red Sea.

The Houthis already control large parts of Yemen, including the capital Sanaa. The militia announced a naval blockade against Saudi Arabia at the end of July and has since attacked Saudi Arabian oil tankers in the Red Sea and oil facilities in the kingdom.

Saudi Arabia supports Yemeni government troops in the fight against the Houthis, who in turn are supported by Iran. On Friday, Saudi Arabia temporarily closed the important east-west pipeline after the drone attacks.

A military coalition led by Saudi Arabia had supported the internationally recognized government of Yemen in the fight against the Houthis since 2015. Since a UN-brokered ceasefire in 2022, fighting between Saudi Arabia and the militia has largely come to a standstill. After the new battles, this ceasefire is now practically invalid.