Saudi Arabia Accuses Iran Of Encouraging Houthis, Says Regional Actors Helped Rebels Acquire ‘Advanced Technology’

Saudi Arabia on Thursday accused Iran of encouraging the Houthis’ latest escalation against the kingdom, alleging that regional actors had helped the Yemen-based group acquire advanced military technology, including ballistic missiles, attack drones and explosive-laden boats.

The Saudi-led coalition fighting the Houthis said the group had carried out 20 attacks on Riyadh’s international airport in October, as strikes increasingly targeted Saudi transport hubs, oil facilities and critical infrastructure. Coalition spokesperson Turki al-Maliki made the allegations during a briefing in Riyadh, claiming the Houthis had obtained advanced weapons with assistance from unnamed regional actors.

“The terrorist Houthi militias have worked to obtain advanced technologies with the help of regional actors,” al-Maliki said, adding that the group possessed “ballistic missiles, attack and suicide drones, and fast explosive-laden boats”.

Dr Rayed Krimly, Saudi Arabia’s deputy minister for public diplomacy, separately accused Tehran of continuing to arm, train and support the Houthis in violation of United Nations Security Council resolutions.

“Iran continues to arm, train and support the Houthi militia in violation of UN Security Council resolutions,” Krimly said during a virtual briefing with reporters. He added that Riyadh believed Iran was encouraging the latest escalation in the conflict.

The coalition said attacks on Saudi airports had killed 19 people and injured 364, including strikes on Abha airport in the kingdom’s southwest. It also reported destroying 127 weapons storage facilities and missile launch platforms in Yemen’s mountainous areas.

Despite the growing hostilities, Krimly said Saudi Arabia remained in direct communication with Iran. However, he said Tehran had yet to offer the concessions Riyadh considered necessary for a solution.

The Saudi official also revealed that the kingdom had sought a meeting with the Houthis in Muscat, Oman, at the beginning of the latest escalation. The group refused, he said, adding that the last communication had taken place several weeks earlier.

The Saudi-led coalition urged the Houthis to immediately stop attacks on civilian facilities, including airports, ports, oil installations and other infrastructure.

The Houthis, meanwhile, warned that Saudi airspace and airports were unsafe, while excluding the holy cities of Mecca and Medina from their warning. The group had previously pledged not to target airports in the two cities.