Houthi Attack in Saudi Arabia Injures 11 Civilians

An attack by Yemen’s Houthis in southern Saudi Arabia wounded 11 civilians on Thursday, as Riyadh warned that coordinated attacks by the Houthis and Iran-backed Iraqi militias could soon follow.

Major General Turki al-Maliki, spokesman for the Saudi-led military coalition, said the attack in Najran Province injured seven Saudis, one Yemeni, two Egyptians and one Pakistani. The victims included a four-year-old child who suffered second-degree burns.

A senior Saudi official told Reuters that intelligence from Saudi Arabia, the US and other Middle Eastern countries indicated that the Houthis and Iraqi militias under the supervision of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps could soon launch coordinated attacks. Possible targets include energy infrastructure, ports and airports.

Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Pakistan were due to sign a defense agreement on Friday, two regional sources told Reuters. Details of the agreement were not immediately available.

The Houthis did not immediately comment on Thursday’s attack. On Tuesday, however, they claimed responsibility for an attack on Najran airport.

(Reuters, lud)