MOGADISHU, Sept. 8, 2026 — Somalia on Tuesday strongly condemned attacks it said were carried out by Yemen’s Houthi rebels against civilian and economic targets in southern Saudi Arabia.
Somalia’s Foreign Ministry said the attacks had injured dozens of civilians, including women and children, according to Saudi authorities.
“Deliberately targeting civilians and economic infrastructure constitutes a violation of international law,” the ministry said, warning that the escalation of regional conflicts posed additional risks to security in the Red Sea and the Horn of Africa.
Mogadishu also expressed concern over attacks targeting commercial shipping, saying such incidents threatened freedom of navigation and the movement of vessels through the region.
Somalia called for an immediate halt to all attacks and urged a return to political efforts aimed at ending the conflict in Yemen.
The Somali government also voiced solidarity with Saudi Arabia, its leadership and people, and wished those wounded in the attacks a full recovery.
The Iran-backed Houthis launched a large-scale attack early Tuesday against southwestern Saudi Arabia, targeting oil infrastructure and other strategic sites, according to the report.
Saudi officials said dozens of civilians were wounded. The Energy Ministry said the attacks also triggered fires at several facilities in the southern region, temporarily disrupting some operations.
A Saudi-led coalition said it would respond firmly to the attacks, which marked a significant escalation in tensions between Riyadh and the Houthis.
The violence has intensified again since July following the collapse of a ceasefire, according to the report.
