Iran Rejects Saudi Claims of Involvement in Houthi Attacks on Kingdom

Iran has denied any involvement in attacks carried out by Yemen’s Houthi group. This denial comes after Saudi Arabia accused Iran of encouraging the Houthis to escalate their actions against the kingdom.

The Houthis, who are aligned with Iran, have been targeting Saudi locations since Yemen’s civil war intensified in July. Their attacks have included strikes on oil facilities and Riyadh’s international airport, where a recent attack resulted in 13 deaths.

A Saudi-led military coalition has been backing Yemen’s recognized government for over ten years. On Friday, they reported intercepting more missiles and drones as the Houthis continue their assaults.

Iran’s foreign ministry spokesman, Esmaeil Baqaei, stated that the claims of Iranian involvement are not credible and emphasized that Yemen’s armed forces operate based on their own interests. He also expressed that Iran is willing to mediate to help end the hostilities.

Meanwhile, the Saudi-led coalition reported successfully intercepting three drones and two cruise missiles over the Red Sea. They also intercepted a ballistic missile targeting Yanbu, a city crucial for oil transport.

The Houthi attacks have increased since they launched a significant offensive in September, capturing key areas along the Red Sea coast. In response, Yemeni government forces, supported by Saudi airstrikes, have attempted to reclaim these territories but have not yet succeeded.

Recent missile strikes have also targeted Aden’s airport, with no casualties reported. However, the Yemeni information ministry highlighted that a passenger flight nearly came under fire during these attacks, raising serious concerns about aviation safety.