According to a report by Dawn, Saudi Arabia has accused Iran of encouraging and supporting Houthi forces during a recent intensification of fighting between the kingdom and the Yemeni group.
What happened
Dr. Rayed Krimly, deputy minister for public diplomacy at the Saudi Foreign Ministry, stated during a virtual press briefing that Iran persists in arming, training, and backing the Houthi militia in violation of United Nations Security Council resolutions. Krimly noted that although Saudi Arabia maintains direct dialogue with Iranian officials, Tehran has not demonstrated a readiness to provide the necessary concessions to reach a resolution. He also stated that Houthi representatives refused an invitation to meet in Muscat, Oman, several weeks ago when the recent escalation began.
Meanwhile, Houthi forces have launched sustained strikes against critical Saudi infrastructure. A spokesperson for the Saudi-led military coalition, Turki al-Maliki, announced that the militia attempted to attack dozens of airports, seaports, and oil assets. Following the coalition's statement, a Houthi military spokesperson issued a warning to commercial airlines, claiming Saudi airspace and airports were unsafe, though airspace over Makkah and Madina was excluded.
Key facts
- Coalition spokesperson Turki al-Maliki reported 20 Houthi attacks targeting King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh this month, resulting in 17 deaths and 333 injuries.
- Strikes on Abha airport in southwestern Saudi Arabia killed 3 people and wounded 28 others.
- The military coalition stated it destroyed 127 launch platforms and weapons storage facilities in the mountainous regions of Yemen.
- Maliki stated that Houthi forces obtained advanced military hardware, including drones, ballistic missiles, and explosive-laden fast boats, with help from regional actors.
- Yemen's civil war reignited in July following the collapse of a UN-brokered truce.
Why it matters
As reported by Dawn, the renewed violence follows a UN-brokered truce collapse in a conflict that began in 2015, when Houthis captured Yemen's capital, Sanaa. The ongoing fighting has created what the UN identifies as one of the world's most severe humanitarian crises, leaving most of Yemen's population dependent on assistance, while also destabilizing Middle Eastern energy markets and supplies. Specific details regarding future peace talks are not specified in the source; please check the official notice.
Source: Dawn - Home · Published October 15, 2026 · Photo by Oualid Lakhrouti on Unsplash