Saudi-Houthi Attacks Kill 5, Including 3 Children, as Houthis Deny Mecca Drone Claim
Updated
Updated · Al Jazeera English · Sep 17
Saudi-Houthi Attacks Kill 5, Including 3 Children, as Houthis Deny Mecca Drone Claim
3 articles · Updated · Al Jazeera English · Sep 17
Summary
At least five people were reported killed on Thursday in escalating Saudi-Houthi attacks, including three children in Yemen and a Yemeni resident in Saudi Arabia's Taif governorate.
Saudi civil defence said a Houthi drone was intercepted over Taif, killing one person and injuring two, while Houthi-linked media said Saudi strikes hit telecom towers in Taiz and the town of Abs.
Abdel-Malik al-Houthi rejected Saudi claims that his group launched a drone toward Mecca, calling the accusation propaganda and saying Houthi forces were acting defensively after Saudi Arabia started the latest round.
Iran said any attack on Mecca would be condemned but argued Saudi Arabia's claim alone was insufficient proof, while Reuters reported China privately asked Tehran to help rein in the Houthis.
The flare-up is widening regional pressure: Yemen's Saudi-backed leadership said Houthi gains are temporary, and Pakistan's defence minister urged implementation of a Saudi-Turkiye-Pakistan defence pact.