UN Security Council slams ‘escalatory’ Houthi attacks

The UN Security Council delivered a strong condemnation of escalating Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia and threats to commercial shipping in the Red Sea and Bab al-Mandab Strait. The joint statement, released on Thursday, emphasized the "escalatory" nature of the attacks, including 20 reckless strikes on Riyadh's international airport since the start of the month, resulting in the death of 13 people and injuries to over 300.

The UN body, with its 15-member council, condemned the attacks in the strongest possible terms and affirmed the Saudi Kingdom's inherent right to self-defense as per international law. Following the airport attack, the Saudi coalition reported intercepting a missile in the region of Medina, one of Islam's holiest cities, though the Houthis denied involvement.

The Houthi group, who have previously vowed to protect Islam's holy sites, reported a deadly missile strike on the Yemeni government's interim capital of Aden, targeting command centers within a compound shared by government forces and the Saudi-led military coalition. This attack left five people dead and 16 injured, comprising both military and civilian personnel.

The civil war in Yemen, which has Saudi Arabia leading a coalition supporting the government since 2015, reignited in September following the collapse of a truce.