Houthis accuse Saudi Arabia of deadly strikes as thousands flee

Saudi Arabia's King Salman denounced Yemen's Houthis as a "terrorist militia" in a rare statement on Tuesday, following an attack that authorities said targeted the holy city of Makkah. King Salman praised the country's armed forces and security services for defending Yemen, while condemning the Houthi attempt to "target Makkah" as a "provocation to Muslims around the world".

The rebels accused Riyadh of launching deadly strikes, killing civilians and prison inmates, as the Saudi-led coalition seeks to repel the Houthi offensive that has seized strategic territory. The recent Houthi takeover of Yemen's Red Sea coast has left hundreds dead, heightened fears over global trade and shipping through the Bab al-Mandab strait, and forced thousands to flee.

The United Nations forecast the number of displaced could surge from over 130,000 to more than 230,000 in the coming months. The Houthis have also carried out attacks on Saudi territory, including a strike targeting Riyadh for the first time in years. Saudi Arabia, which backs Yemen's internationally recognized government, has sought to contain the Houthi advance with air strikes.

The Houthis retaliated with attacks on Saudi territory, including a strike on the capital Riyadh. Both sides have reported casualties, with 154 people killed in fighting over the past two days, according to military sources from both sides.