Somalia has condemned a wave of Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia, warning that strikes on civilian and economic infrastructure threaten stability in the Red Sea and the wider Horn of Africa.
In a statement on Tuesday, Somalia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the targeting of civilians and civilian infrastructure was a serious violation of international law and represented a dangerous escalation.
“The deliberate targeting of civilians and civilian infrastructure is a grave violation of international law and a dangerous escalation that threatens the security of the Red Sea and the Horn of Africa,” the ministry said.
Somalia, which borders the Gulf of Aden and sits close to major Red Sea shipping routes, said it was particularly concerned about continued attacks on commercial vessels and threats to freedom of navigation.
“As a littoral state, Somalia views with serious concern the continued targeting of commercial vessels and the threat to freedom of navigation,” the ministry said, calling for an immediate end to attacks and a renewed commitment to a political settlement in Yemen.
The Somali government also expressed its solidarity with Saudi Arabia, its leadership and people, and wished those injured in the attacks a swift recovery.
More than 70 reported injured
Saudi authorities said the Iran-backed Houthi movement launched a series of attacks on Tuesday, injuring more than 70 people and causing fires at oil facilities and utilities.
The attacks represent a significant escalation in renewed hostilities between Saudi Arabia and the Houthis, who control much of Yemen’s most populated territory, including the capital, Sanaa.
The Houthis said they had carried out a broad operation deep inside Saudi territory, using drones and missiles.
The group said its targets included a Saudi airbase in Khamis Mushait and facilities linked to Saudi Aramco in Abha, Najran and Jazan.
Jazan, a major port city on Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea coast, is home to a refinery and power plant.
Regional and energy concerns
The latest escalation has heightened concerns about regional security and the potential impact on global energy supplies.
Houthi attacks have previously threatened shipping through strategically important waterways used to transport oil and commercial goods. The Bab el-Mandeb, which connects the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden, is a particularly important maritime passage.
Somalia’s government said continued attacks on shipping posed a wider threat to freedom of navigation and called for an end to the violence.
The statement comes as international concern grows over security in the Red Sea and the wider region, where instability could disrupt vital commercial and energy routes.
