3 weeks ago
Houthi attack wounds 11 civilians; Saudi Arabia warns of threat
There is a war happening in a country called Yemen.
Some fighters from Yemen, called Houthis, shot at streets and buildings in a nearby country called Saudi Arabia.
The attack hurt 11 people, including a 4-year-old child.
Saudi officials said the attack was wrong and that fighters should not hurt regular people.
Saudi Arabia is worried that even bigger attacks might come soon, possibly together with fighters from Iraq.
So Saudi Arabia is working with friends like America, Turkey and Pakistan to stay safe.
Turkey and Pakistan's leaders visited Saudi Arabia to talk and sign a defense agreement.
Saudi Arabia says it still hopes for peace and wants to talk instead of fight.
But it also says it will do whatever it takes to protect its people.
A Houthi attack on Najran Province in southern Saudi Arabia wounded 11 civilians on Thursday, including seven Saudis, one Yemeni, two Egyptians and one Pakistani national.
One victim was a 4-year-old child who suffered second-degree burns.
Coalition spokesman Major General Turki al-Maliki accused the Iran-aligned Houthis of indiscriminately shelling civilian areas in violation of international humanitarian law.
Saudi, U.S. and other Middle Eastern intelligence indicated that Houthis and Iraqi militias supervised by Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps could soon launch coordinated attacks on Saudi civilian sites including energy infrastructure, ports and airports.
Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan were due to sign a defence agreement in the kingdom on Friday, as Pakistani PM Shehbaz Sharif and Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan visited Riyadh.
- Who
- Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthis launched the attack; the wounded were civilians, including seven Saudis, one Yemeni, two Egyptians and one Pakistani national.
- What
- A Houthi attack on southern Saudi Arabia wounded 11 civilians, and Saudi intelligence warned of possible coordinated attacks by Houthis and Iran-backed Iraqi militias on Saudi civilian sites.
- Where
- Najran Province, southern Saudi Arabia.
- When
- Thursday, reported early Friday (Aug 7).
- Why
- The attack is part of a broader escalation in which the Iran-aligned Houthis have struck Saudi military, infrastructure and shipping targets, and which has become entangled with the five-month-old U.S.-Israeli war with Iran.
Saudi-led coalition and allies
Houthis and Iran-aligned groups
Responsibility for civilian harm
Saudi-led coalition and allies
The coalition says the Houthis indiscriminately shell civilian areas in violation of international humanitarian law and will continue taking all necessary measures to protect civilians.
Houthis and Iran-aligned groups
The Houthis describe their strikes as targeting Saudi military deployments and gave no immediate comment on the attack that wounded 11 civilians.
Path to ending the conflict
Saudi-led coalition and allies
Riyadh supports de-escalation and a negotiated settlement with Iran, saying mediation efforts appear to be moving 'in the right direction' and that planned attacks could be intended to disrupt diplomacy.
Houthis and Iran-aligned groups
Iran-backed groups continue striking Saudi territory, and Iraqi militias said they would respond to the Saudi strikes, pointing to a continuing cycle of escalation.
Key facts
- Casualties
- 11 civilians wounded
- Location
- Najran Province, southern Saudi Arabia
- Victim nationalities
- 7 Saudis, 1 Yemeni, 2 Egyptians, 1 Pakistani
- Reported by
- Major General Turki al-Maliki, Saudi-led coalition spokesman
- Warned threat
- Coordinated attacks on Saudi energy infrastructure, ports and airports
- Defence agreement
- Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan due to sign agreement on Friday
- Earlier claims
- Houthis claimed Tuesday attack on Najran airport; killed more than 30 Yemeni government troops Thursday
- Prior escalation
- On July 29, Saudi Arabia with U.S. Central Command struck Iran-backed groups in Iraq; Iraqi militias said they would respond
Sources
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