Iran denies Saudi accusation of involvement in Houthi attacks

Iran has officially denied allegations from Saudi Arabia that it encouraged or directed the recent escalation of attacks by Yemen's Houthi rebels. Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei stated that Yemeni forces operate independently based on their own strategic assessments and national interests, adding that Iran does not view an escalation of tensions as being in the interest of any party.

These denials followed claims from Saudi deputy minister for public diplomacy Dr. Rayed Krimly that Iran had encouraged the group's recent activities.

The Houthis have conducted various strikes, including attacks against Red Sea tankers, oil facilities, and Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport. The Korea Times reports that two consecutive strikes hit the Riyadh airport last week, while the New Straits Times noted that a single attack at the airport killed 13 people. In Aden, two Houthi rockets landed within the grounds of Aden International Airport, though Ajel English reports that no casualties occurred from this specific incident.

In response to the Houthi actions, the Yemeni army continues to confront the militias to restore security. Aden Governor Abdulrahman Sheikh stated that the attacks will not prevent officials from fulfilling their duties and that institutions in Aden are working to restore normal life. Meanwhile, Korean Ambassador to the United Nations Cha Ji-hoon called on the U.N. Security Council to strengthen sanctions to cut off weapons supplies to the group, warning that the attacks threaten maritime security and energy supplies.

Brief written by urgent.news from Daily Times, Ajel English, Winnipeg Free Press, New Straits Times, The Korea Times — 5 reports on this story. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.