Yahya Saree, the military spokesman for Yemen's Houthis, said they had claimed responsibility for large-scale missile and drone attacks targeting southern Saudi Arabia. Saree said the operation involved dozens of ballistic missiles and drones.
According to Saree, Saudi Aramco facilities in Abha, Najran and Jizan, as well as Khamis Mushait Air Base, were targeted. The Houthi military spokesman claimed that the attacks directly hit their targets and caused extensive damage to the facilities.
At least 73 civilians injured in the attacks
Saudi officials said at least 73 civilians, including women and children, were injured in the attacks on Abha, Khamis Mushait, Jizan and Najran.
Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Energy said fires broke out at energy facilities in the country's south and that operations at some targeted facilities were temporarily suspended.
Houthis link attacks to air operations in Yemen
Yahya Saree said the attacks were carried out in response to what he said were 121 Saudi airstrikes on the Marib, Al-Bayda, Hudaydah, Taiz and Al-Jawf governorates over the previous three days.
Saree also accused Saudi Arabia of striking the Central Prison in Al-Hazm district of Al-Jawf governorate. He claimed that prisoners and visitors, including women and children, were harmed in the attack.
The Houthi military spokesman said operations deep inside Saudi territory would continue and that military deployments would be targeted. Saree said they would continue responding to attacks on Yemen and the blockade.
Coalition calls attacks a dangerous escalation
Major General Turki al-Maliki, spokesman for the Saudi-led coalition, described the attacks as “a dangerous escalation.” Al-Maliki said the necessary operational measures would be taken to deter the Houthis and neutralize the sources of the threat.
The escalation came as Yemen's government forces said they had made gains against the Houthis on several fronts, including Al-Jawf, Al-Bayda, Taiz and Hudaydah.
Fighting in Yemen intensified after the Houthis seized the capital, Sanaa, in 2014. The Saudi-led coalition intervened in March 2015 to support Yemen's internationally recognized government.
