India condemns Iran-backed Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia that injured over 70 civilians: ‘Unacceptable’

India Denounces Houthi Strikes on Saudi Arabia as Regional Tensions Deepen

Theindiapostdaily.com – India has strongly criticised the latest Houthi attacks inside Saudi Arabia, describing the targeting of civilian and economic locations as unacceptable and warning that the violence threatens security across the wider region.

The response from New Delhi followed a series of assaults attributed to Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi movement in Saudi territory. The attacks hit areas including Abha, Jazan, Khamis Mushait and Najran, leaving 73 civilians injured, among them women and children. Saudi authorities said some oil facilities were temporarily shut after the strikes.

India Raises Concern Over Civilian Targets and Shipping Routes

Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said India condemned attacks on Saudi sovereign territory, with particular concern for strikes directed at civilian and commercial infrastructure.

“India condemned the attacks on Saudi sovereign territory, especially the targeting of civilian and economic facilities.”

Jaiswal said the attacks damaged prospects for regional stability and also posed a risk to freedom of navigation through the Bab-el-Mandeb strait. The narrow waterway links the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden and is a vital passage for international shipping. Disruption there can affect maritime trade routes connecting Asia, Europe and the Middle East.

“Undermined regional security and stability and threatened freedom of navigation in the Bab-el-Mandeb, were unacceptable.”

India’s position reflects its broader interest in stability around the Red Sea and Arabian Peninsula, where conflict can endanger civilian populations, energy infrastructure and shipping activity. The country has repeatedly supported peaceful solutions to regional disputes while stressing the need to protect maritime movement.

Strikes Hit Saudi Areas Near Yemen

The latest escalation included a Houthi attack on an airbase in Khamis Mushait as well as strikes on oil-related infrastructure in nearby locations. It marked one of the most significant waves of attacks on Saudi Arabia since the US-Israeli war on Iran began in February.

In response, the Houthis said Saudi aircraft carried out more than 30 strikes across parts of Yemen. Their Almasirah television channel said 32 airstrikes had targeted areas in the governorates of Marib, Al-Jawf, Taiz and Hodeida over several hours.

The Houthi movement said its action against Saudi Arabia was a response to what it described as Saudi escalation in Yemen. The exchange has renewed concern that fighting could expand after a period in which violence had fallen significantly.

A United Nations-brokered truce in 2022 had largely paused years of war between Saudi Arabia and the Houthis. Although the truce helped reduce major cross-border attacks, the underlying political and military dispute remained unresolved. Recent developments have raised fears that the conflict may again draw in surrounding states and create fresh risks for civilians.

Saudi Arabia Calls for International Action

Saudi Arabia issued its strongest condemnation of the attacks and said the Houthi campaign was also endangering commercial vessels in the Red Sea and international maritime corridors. Riyadh said the militia had continued to reject peace efforts while threatening Yemen’s security and that of its Arab and Islamic surroundings.

“The Kingdom warned against the consequences of the terrorist Houthi militia’s continued targeting of innocent civilians and civilian facilities, and stressed the need for an immediate halt to all forms of escalation carried out by the militia, as well as its continued threats to the security of maritime navigation.”

The Saudi foreign ministry said the kingdom retained the right to take necessary steps to defend its territory, protect strategic sites and ensure the safety of citizens and residents within international legal principles. It urged the international community to enforce United Nations Security Council resolutions, including Resolutions 2216 and 2722.

The focus on maritime security has become increasingly important as threats to vessels in and around the Red Sea have affected a major global trade route. For countries dependent on uninterrupted sea transport, any sustained instability around the Bab-el-Mandeb could have consequences far beyond the immediate conflict zone.

Pakistan Points to Makkah Defence Alliance

Pakistan also issued a warning after the attacks, saying there should be no uncertainty about the collective-defence commitments of the recently formed Makkah Defence Alliance. The arrangement was signed last month by Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkiye.

Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif said an unprovoked attack on any member of the alliance, or an extension of the Yemen conflict into Saudi Arabia, could trigger the pact’s collective-defence provisions.

“There should be no ambiguity; there is no need for any clarity that this is a joint defence agreement.”

Asif said Pakistan would meet its obligations to Saudi Arabia under the agreement. His comments came hours after the missile and drone attacks launched by Houthi forces.

The developments underline how quickly the Yemen conflict can affect the security calculations of neighbouring countries. India’s condemnation, Saudi Arabia’s call for action and Pakistan’s alliance warning each point to the wider regional stakes: civilian protection, secure energy facilities, diplomatic restraint and safe passage through one of the world’s most important maritime chokepoints.