United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres voiced concern over continued Houthi attacks on civilian targets in Saudi Arabia and escalating hostilities around Taiz in Yemen, warning that they were inflicting heavy civilian suffering and heightening regional tensions.
Speaking to reporters in New York on Thursday, Guterres called for an end to attacks on homes, hospitals, schools, airports and energy facilities. He warned that escalating conflicts were compounding humanitarian suffering and affecting energy markets, supply chains and financial systems, adding to the cost-of-living pressures faced by people around the world.
He urged restraint and called for renewed efforts to advance a political solution in Yemen, highlighting the UN’s role in this regard. He also stressed the need to end the fighting, uphold international law, protect civilians and ensure freedom of navigation.
Arab and international condemnations mounted over an attack targeting Saudi Arabia's King Fahd International Airport in Dammam that killed two people and wounded eight others. The condemnations stressed opposition to attacks on civilian and vital infrastructure and expressed solidarity with Saudi Arabia in protecting its security, sovereignty and the safety of its citizens and residents.
On the ground, the Coalition to Restore Legitimacy in Yemen said on Thursday it had destroyed a ballistic missile heading toward Najran and nine drones targeting the Eastern Province, Riyadh and Madinah.
Coalition spokesman Maj. Gen. Turki al-Malki said air defenses had intercepted and destroyed four drones heading toward the Eastern Province and five others targeting Riyadh and Madinah.
He added that a ballistic missile launched by the Iran-aligned Houthi militia toward Najran, in southwestern Saudi Arabia, had also been intercepted and destroyed on Thursday.
