TEHRAN: Iran denied any role in Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia on Friday, rejecting a Saudi accusation that Tehran had encouraged the group’s recent escalation.
“Yemen’s armed forces act according to their own interests and assessments,” Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei said in a statement.
Saudi Deputy Minister for Public Diplomacy Rayed Krimly had accused Iran on Thursday of encouraging the attacks. He charged Tehran with continuing to supply weapons and training to the Houthis in breach of United Nations resolutions.
Baqaei maintained that further escalation served no party’s interests. He renewed Iran’s offer to mediate between Saudi Arabia and the Houthis to help end hostilities. Krimly maintained that the Houthis had rejected an invitation to meet in Oman at the start of the latest hostilities.
A Saudi-led military coalition spokesman said on Friday that its forces had destroyed three drones over southern Saudi Arabia and Riyadh. He said it had intercepted two cruise missiles over the Red Sea.
The spokesman said coalition forces also intercepted a ballistic missile over Yanbu. The Red Sea coastal city houses the terminus of a major oil pipeline.
On Thursday, the United Nations Security Council condemned Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia and threats against commercial shipping in the Red Sea and Bab al-Mandeb Strait.
Council members denounced strikes on Riyadh’s international airport. The coalition said at least 20 attacks targeted the airport this month.
In Yemen, police reported that two missiles struck Aden’s airport on Friday night. Local security authorities reported no deaths. A Houthi statement attributed to a military source claimed the attack targeted a Saudi forces’ command headquarters and a weapons depot.
Aden serves as the interim capital of Yemen’s internationally recognised government, which has military support from the Saudi-led coalition.
Read More: Yemen Says Houthi Attack on Aden Palace Kills Five People
Thursday’s missile attack on the city’s presidential palace killed five people and wounded 16 others, according to Yemen’s health minister. Houthi-affiliated media claimed Saudi officers directed military operations from the Al-Maashiq Palace complex.
Yemeni Prime Minister Shaya al-Zindani condemned the palace attack in a post on X. Government forces have launched a counteroffensive with Saudi air support to regain territory seized by the Houthis.
(With additional input from AP)
