Eleven civilians, including a four-year-old child, were injured in a Houthi projectile attack on Saudi Arabia’s southern Najran region on Thursday.
Saudi-led coalition spokesman Maj. Gen. Turki al-Maliki confirmed the victims include seven Saudis, two Egyptians, one Yemeni and a Pakistani national. Condemning the strike as an indiscriminate violation of international law, the coalition vowed strict deterrent measures to protect civilians. The Houthis have not yet commented on the incident.
The attack coincides with alarming intelligence from Saudi, U.S., and Middle Eastern officials warning of imminent, coordinated strikes. Authorities report that the Houthis and Iran-backed Iraqi militias also overseen by Iran’s Revolutionary Guard are planning attacks on Saudi energy infrastructure, ports and airports. A senior Saudi official suggested these threats aim to derail ongoing regional mediation efforts.
This escalation unfolds against the backdrop of a five-month-old U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran, severely complicating Saudi security. Houthi actions including a Red Sea blockade disrupting global oil exports have already heightened regional tensions. Earlier this week, the Houthis claimed an attack on Najran airport and reportedly killed over 30 Yemeni government troops.
In response to the expanding threat, Riyadh is urgently deepening its security alliances. Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Pakistan are scheduled to sign a trilateral defense agreement in the kingdom on Friday with Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan arriving to finalize the pact.
Despite the rising threats, Saudi officials maintain they are committed to diplomatic de-escalation while remaining fully prepared to counter any aggression in cooperation with U.S. Central Command.
