Sanaa (EFE).- The Iran-aligned Houthi rebels claimed responsibility for missile and drone strikes against Riyadh and a facility belonging to the state-owned oil company Aramco in Yanbu, on the Red Sea coast on Thursday. The rebels accused Saudi forces of launching over a thousand attacks on Yemeni territory.
In a statement, the Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree said that the Shiite movement had launched a barrage of ballistic and cruise missiles and drones that «hit their targets» in those locations in Saudi Arabia. He did not provide further details.
Saudi Arabia has not yet responded to these reports. However, on Thursday, it claimed to have shot down at least six ballistic missiles launched by the Houthis against various targets in the Persian Gulf monarchy.
Saree indicated that the attacks were carried out in retaliation for Riyadh’s ongoing «aggression» against Yemen. Since 2015, Riyadh has led a military coalition against the Houthis in support of the internationally recognized Yemeni government, and it has launched a new offensive on Yemeni soil.
Saree reported that, since the escalation began in late July, Saudi Arabia has launched at least 1,018 airstrikes against its positions in Yemen, deploying F-15 and Typhoon fighter jets from bases in Jamis, Mushait, and Taif.
According to the spokesperson, several missiles were launched from bases in the Saudi regions of Najran and Jizan. The attacks targeted locations in Yemen, including Marib and Al-Yauf (north-central), Saada (northwest), Al-Hodeida (west), Taiz (southwest), and Al-Bayda (central). These attacks have resulted in fatalities.
«Every attack will be met with a response. Every escalation will be met with a response of the same kind,» Saree warned, adding that the insurgents’ military operations will not cease until the airstrike campaign and Saudi Arabia’s blockade of Yemen end.
According to the United Nations, at least 125 civilians have been killed, and over 133,000 people have been displaced since the escalation in Yemen began in early August. This has further worsened the already dire humanitarian situation in Yemen, which has been at war since 2014. EFE
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