SANAA, Aug. 7 – A Houthi attack on southern Saudi Arabia wounded 11 civilians, Saudi authorities said, as Riyadh warned of the possibility of coordinated strikes involving the Iran-backed Yemeni group and Iraqi militias.
The Saudi-led military coalition’s spokesman, General Turki al-Maliki, said the attack in the border region of Najran injured seven Saudi nationals, one Yemeni, two Egyptians and one Pakistani.
Al-Maliki accused the Houthis of indiscriminately targeting civilian-populated areas, describing the attack as a violation of international humanitarian law.
Saudi security sources said intelligence services from Saudi Arabia, the United States and other regional partners had identified what they described as plans for coordinated attacks by the Houthis and Iraqi militias linked to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.
According to the sources, the suspected plots could target critical Saudi infrastructure, including energy facilities, ports and airports.
The latest tensions come amid growing concern that conflicts across the Middle East could spread further, prompting Saudi Arabia to strengthen security coordination with key allies.
Regional sources said Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Pakistan were expected to discuss or sign a defence cooperation agreement during separate high-level visits, with Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif having visited the kingdom and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan expected to travel to Saudi Arabia.
Saudi officials said the kingdom remained committed to easing regional tensions and pursuing a diplomatic resolution with Iran, expressing concern that the latest attacks were intended to undermine ongoing diplomatic efforts.
Houthi attacks have also disrupted security in the Red Sea, threatening commercial shipping along one of the world’s busiest maritime corridors linking the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, raising concerns among countries that depend on the strategic waterway.
