Saudi-led coalition warns Houthis of “unprecedented force”

The Saudi Arabia-led Arab coalition has warned it will carry out strikes against Yemen’s Houthi movement, also known as “Ansar Allah,” if the group attempts to attack the kingdom, according to coalition spokesperson Turki al-Maliki.

“The coalition will respond and will strike with full determination and unprecedented force to counter any attempts to attack the kingdom, its citizens and national assets, as well as attempts to violate the sovereignty of the brotherly Republic of Yemen,” al-Maliki said in a statement.

He described recent Houthi threats against Riyadh as “an attempt to divert attention from serious crimes against the Yemeni people,” arguing that the group is seeking to deflect blame for economic difficulties and mask rising domestic discontent.

Al-Maliki said the Houthis continue to reject peace initiatives while targeting key maritime routes, including the Red Sea and the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, a strategic chokepoint for global trade.

He warned that such actions risk severe damage to Yemen’s own critical infrastructure. “Ansar Allah” is putting at risk of total destruction vital facilities, including the ports of Hodeidah, As-Salif and Ras Isa, Sana’a International Airport, as well as power plants and industrial enterprises, he said.

The statement follows claims by the Houthis on July 3 that they used anti-aircraft missiles against Saudi warplanes, which they alleged were attempting to block the landing of an Iranian civilian flight in Sana’a.

The Houthis also threatened to carry out strikes on airports and other vital infrastructure in Saudi Arabia if similar incidents occur again, raising the risk of further escalation between the sides.

By Tamilla Hasanova