Riyadh, September 14: Iranian state-owned Press TV on Monday reported a new wave of Houthi missile strikes towards Saudi Arabia, saying that explosions were heard in areas of the country’s southern region.
Saudi Arabia’s Civil Defence issued and later lifted warnings for residents in Khamis Mushait and Abha in the southwestern region, according to Al Jazeera. The warnings were issued twice within an hour amid reports of Houthi attacks.
Khamis Mushait and Abha are located in southwestern Saudi Arabia, close to the border with Yemen.
The Houthis, who control large parts of northern Yemen, have carried out attacks in the region amid their ongoing confrontation with Saudi Arabia. The group has also targeted shipping linked to Saudi oil exports in the Red Sea, according to Al Jazeera.
Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Saree said on Sunday that the group had targeted weapons depots and command-and-control facilities at a Saudi military base in the Sharurah region.
Al Jazeera reported that two people were injured in a Houthi strike along Saudi Arabia’s border.
The conflict has also affected healthcare services along Yemen’s western coast. Lou Cormack, Yemen country director for Doctors Without Borders, said hospitals in the area were facing shortages of staff and other resources. She said some facilities had resumed operations after being evacuated, but gaps in healthcare services remained.
The developments come amid concerns over the security of the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, a key maritime route for regional trade and energy shipments.
CBS News reported that Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman had asked US President Donald Trump to consider military action against the Houthis, but that Trump declined the request.
The latest developments come as BRICS countries, including Saudi Arabia, Iran and the United Arab Emirates, have called for restraint and dialogue in West Asia.
In its New Delhi declaration on Saturday, the BRICS countries expressed concern over the escalation of tensions in West Asia and called for maximum restraint and measures to prevent further escalation.
The declaration also called for the protection of civilians and civilian infrastructure, respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of states, and the use of dialogue and diplomacy to achieve lasting peace and stability in the region.