Houthis Say Saudi Strikes Kill One, Hit Three Telecom Towers

Saudi airstrikes in Yemen killed one person and injured another while hitting three telecommunications towers on Thursday, Houthi media reported, marking the latest attacks after the Iran-backed group took control of the country’s entire Red Sea coastline.

Houthi-run Almasirah television said Saudi warplanes targeted three telecommunications towers in Taiz province. It also reported that one civilian was killed and another wounded in strikes on the town of Abs.

The reported strikes came a day after Riyadh accused the Houthis of carrying out a “cowardly” attack targeting the holy city of Mecca. The Houthis denied the allegation.

The Houthis have reported dozens of Saudi airstrikes each day since capturing strategic coastal areas overlooking the Bab al-Mandeb Strait from Saudi-backed government forces.

The group’s latest territorial advances have strengthened the position of Iran and its allies along the two waterways relied upon by Gulf states, including major oil exporter Saudi Arabia, for crude shipments.

A fragile truce reached in 2022 broke down in July after the Houthis allowed an Iranian aircraft to land in Sanaa, challenging Riyadh’s control over Yemeni airspace and triggering a new wave of attacks.

The Houthis subsequently declared a maritime blockade of Saudi Arabia and began targeting Saudi vessels and territory.

The conflict in Yemen, one of the poorest countries in the Arabian Peninsula, has displaced more than 100,000 people, according to the United Nations.