India has strongly condemned a fresh wave of Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia, calling the strikes on civilian and economic sites unacceptable and a threat to regional security.
Responding to media queries on the attacks, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said India condemned the strikes on Saudi sovereign territory, specifically flagging the targeting of civilian and economic facilities. He added that such actions undermined regional security and stability and threatened freedom of navigation through the Bab-el-Mandeb strait — one of the world’s most critical maritime chokepoints — and were therefore unacceptable.
New Delhi also called on the international community to ensure enforcement of relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions.
What happened in Saudi Arabia
India’s statement followed a condemnation issued a day earlier by Saudi Arabia’s own Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which denounced Houthi attacks on civilian and economic assets across four Saudi cities — Abha, Jazan, Khamis Mushait, and Najran. The strikes reportedly injured 73 people, including women and children.
Riyadh also used its statement to condemn continuing Houthi attacks on commercial shipping in the Red Sea and threats to international maritime navigation more broadly.
Saudi Arabia’s response
In its own statement, shared on social media, the Saudi Foreign Ministry asserted its right under international law to take all necessary measures to defend its sovereignty, protect national assets, and ensure the safety of its citizens and residents. It said it would not tolerate attacks on its territory or national assets and warned of consequences if the Houthi militia continued targeting civilians and civilian infrastructure, calling for an immediate halt to all forms of escalation.
The bigger picture
The Iran-aligned Houthi movement, which controls large parts of Yemen, has for years targeted Saudi Arabia and, more recently, international shipping lanes in the Red Sea and the Bab-el-Mandeb strait — moves widely seen as linked to the broader regional fallout from the Israel-Gaza conflict. The strait is a vital corridor for global oil and trade shipments, and disruptions there have repeatedly rattled international shipping and energy markets.
India’s condemnation reflects its broader interest in Gulf stability: New Delhi has deep energy and trade ties with Saudi Arabia and a stake in keeping Red Sea shipping lanes secure, given how much Indian trade transits through the region.
As of now, neither the Houthis nor their backers have publicly responded to Saudi Arabia’s or India’s statements.
