In Yemen and Saudi Arabia, intensification of attacks by Houthi rebels and strong international reactions

In Yemen, hostilities between rebels and government forces have intensified. But alongside their offensive on Yemeni soil, the Houthis carried out a vast attack on Tuesday September 8 in Saudi Arabia, which leads the military coalition supporting the Yemeni government recognized by the international community. According to the coalition spokesperson, these strikes targeting oil installations left 73 civilians injured, including women and children, sparking indignation from the international community.

The kingdom "will not hesitate to defend itself", warned the head of Saudi diplomacy Faisal bin Farhane.

Through the voice of the spokesperson for its diplomatic service, the European Union urged the Houthi rebels of Yemen, supported by Iran, to “end all attacks inside and outside Yemen, including [those] against commercial maritime transport in the Red Sea”.

These attacks constitute a dangerous escalation, violate international law, undermine regional security and stability, and risk further undermining efforts towards a peaceful resolution of the conflict in Yemen. Anouar El Anouni, spokesperson for the EU diplomatic service in a press release

For his part, UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres also “condemned” these strikes. Saying he was "concerned by the intensification of military clashes on several front lines in Yemen", he called on the parties to "spare the civilian population", his spokesperson, Stéphane Dujarric, said on Tuesday. The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) for its part called for “urgent measures” to defuse hostilities in Yemen and Saudi Arabia and protect civilians.

The "hand of Iran"

The Houthis struck with dozens of drones and missiles across southern Saudi Arabia, targeting sites of oil giant Aramco in Abha, Najran, and Jizan, as well as the King Khalid Air Base in Khamis Mushait, according to their military spokesperson Yahya Saree. This operation was carried out in response to “121 strikes” carried out by Riyadh in Yemen over the past three days, he added, with the Houthi channel al-Masirah reporting these new strikes.

At the heart of this renewed hostilities is the strategic Bab el-Mandeb Strait. These new attacks by Yemeni rebels, supported by Iran, further increase the pressure on Saudi Arabia, the world's leading exporter of crude oil, already affected by the near paralysis of the Strait of Hormuz. American Secretary of State Marco Rubio said he saw the "hand of Iran".

The rebels launched a major offensive on Thursday aimed at advancing towards areas bordering this sea route, which connects Asia to Europe via the Red Sea and the Suez Canal. More than 500 fighters from both camps have been killed since Thursday, according to a latest AFP count, based on figures from rebels and government forces.