Sanaa: Yemen’s Houthis have claimed to have carried out separate drone attacks on an airport in the southern Saudi Arabian city of Najran and a facility of state-owned oil company Aramco.
According to international media reports, Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree said that both targets were hit with great precision by a drone. The first operation was carried out against a sensitive Saudi target at Najran airport, while the second operation targeted an Aramco facility in Najran.
Yahya Saree claimed that both operations succeeded in achieving their objectives. He did not provide any details of possible deaths, injuries or financial losses in the attacks. There was no immediate confirmation or denial of the Houthis’ claim by Saudi authorities.
Therefore, it is currently unclear whether the alleged drone attacks on Najran Airport and Aramco facilities actually caused any damage. Shortly before the Houthi claims of attacks, Iran’s Revolutionary Guards had also warned Saudi Arabia that it would not be able to control Yemen’s Houthis.
Speaking to Iranian media, Revolutionary Guards spokesman Hossein Mohebbi said that Saudi Arabia cannot control Yemen and Ansar Allah, nor will it be safe from their attacks. The more Saudi Arabia attacks, the more and more severe the response will be.
It should be noted that last week, the Houthis also claimed to have carried out a drone attack on an Aramco facility in the southern Saudi Arabian region of Jazan.
Even then, the Houthi claim was not immediately confirmed by Saudi authorities or Aramco. In the past month, 31 operations have been carried out against Saudi targets, including military installations, energy centers and ships.
On the other hand, the Yemeni government has expressed concern over the Houthis’ attempts to strengthen their position near the Bab al-Mandab Strait, a key sea route in the Red Sea.
According to Yemeni officials, the Houthis are planning to advance further south from the areas they hold and gain control of new areas near the Bab al-Mandab Strait.
Speaking to AFP, Houthi sources and a military spokesman for the Yemeni government also claimed that the rebels are preparing to advance in a southern direction. The attempt to gain control of the Bab al-Mandab Strait could pose a major threat to global maritime trade, as this sea route is of great importance for global trade.
The increase in Houthi operations against Saudi territory, energy infrastructure and key sea routes has further complicated the already tense situation in the region.
