Saudi Arabia said on September 17 that debris from an intercepted Houthi drone killed a Yemeni resident in Taif and injured two people. The National reported that this was the first death announced in the kingdom since the Iran-backed group renewed its attacks this month, amid widening fighting in neighbouring Yemen.
The injured were a Saudi woman and a Pakistani resident whose condition was critical, according to the civil defence statement reported by Saudi Gazette. Falling debris also damaged buildings and vehicles. The agency said emergency procedures had been carried out; the Associated Press noted that its statement did not specify the exact time of the incident.
The confrontation also involves a disputed Saudi accusation that the Houthis tried to target Mecca. The group denies targeting the holy city, according to AP and The National. Saudi Arabia supports Yemen’s internationally recognised government, while the Houthis control Sanaa and much of the country. The National said fighting had eased after a 2022 truce before rising sharply in recent weeks.
Reuters reported on Thursday that Yemenis were escaping across the Red Sea by boat. Citing the International Organization for Migration, it said more than 100,000 people had been displaced by the latest fighting, mainly inside Yemen. One man who reached Africa described leaving his village after fighters arrived, airstrikes began and shops closed, leaving no food to buy.
The escalation threatens oil routes as well as civilians. Reuters said Houthi advances along the Red Sea coast and nearby islands jeopardised the alternative route for Gulf oil through the Bab el-Mandeb strait. Saudi Arabia’s East-West Pipeline remained shut after an attack the previous week that Riyadh said originated in Iraq, further constraining the kingdom’s export options.
Bahrain, Jordan and Kuwait condemned the deadly Taif attack on Thursday, AP reported. Egypt’s foreign minister rejected attacks on Saudi Arabia, while Pakistan expressed concern. AP said the kingdom faces a choice between a stronger military response and a diplomatic approach as the cross-border attacks continue.
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