Iran denies accusation of involvement in Houthi attacks
Iran denied having anything to do with attacks by Yemen's Houthis, a day after Saudi Arabia accused it of having encouraged the group's recent escalation against the kingdom.
Iran has firmly rejected allegations that it is involved in the Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia, just a day after Saudi Arabia accused Iran of encouraging the group's recent escalations. Since Yemen's civil war reignited in July, the Iran-aligned Houthi group has repeatedly targeted Saudi interests, including Red Sea tankers, oil facilities, and the country's international airport, where 13 individuals were killed in an attack last week.
A coalition led by Saudi forces has supported Yemen's internationally recognized government for over a decade, intercepting multiple missiles and drones launched by the Houthis in recent days.
In a statement, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei emphatically denied any role in the Houthi operations, stating that "any claim that Iran has played a role in Yemeni (Houthi) operations is not credible." He emphasized that Iran does not believe that escalating tensions serve the interests of any party. Iran has expressed willingness to mediate between the conflicting sides.
The Saudi-led coalition reported intercepting and destroying a drone and two cruise missiles over the Red Sea, and a ballistic missile in the southern area, demonstrating their defensive measures against the escalating threats. The Houthis' attacks have intensified following their lightning offensive in September, which captured strategic government-held territory along Yemen's Red Sea coast.
Despite Yemeni government forces, supported by Saudi air power, launching a counteroffensive to retake Houthi-seized areas, they have not yet been able to reverse the Houthi gains.
The latest incident involved two missiles landing within the perimeter of Aden's airport, the government's interim capital, posing a direct threat to passengers and flight crews. The Yemeni information ministry condemned the attack, calling it a violation of international laws and norms. The previous day, the group carried out a deadly missile strike on the presidential palace in Aden, killing five people and wounding 16 others, according to the health minister.
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