RIYADH — The Saudi-led coalition fighting in Yemen has warned it will respond with “unprecedented determination and force” to any attacks on Saudi territory or threats to regional security, as tensions with the Houthi movement sharply escalate following fresh accusations and military threats.
In a statement carried by Saudi state media and regional outlets, coalition spokesperson Maj. Gen. Turki al-Maliki said recent Houthi rhetoric and military claims were part of an attempt to divert attention from what he described as “violations against the Yemeni people” and continued destabilising actions in the region.
The warning comes after Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Saree threatened expanded attacks on Saudi airports and strategic infrastructure, saying the group would respond to what it called Saudi interference in Yemeni airspace and operations linked to civilian flights arriving in Sanaa.
The coalition rejected these claims, saying it remained committed to protecting civilian infrastructure while reserving the right to respond to any direct threat against Saudi Arabia, its citizens, or its territory. Officials also reiterated that military operations are conducted in line with international humanitarian law and are aimed at countering threats posed by the Houthis’ continued military capabilities, including missiles and drones.
The escalation follows reports of heightened regional tensions after renewed activity at Sanaa International Airport, including the arrival of flights linked to Iran, which Saudi-backed Yemeni authorities described as violations of sovereignty. The Houthis, who control the capital Sanaa, defended the movements as legitimate civilian or humanitarian operations.
Analysts say the latest exchange of threats reflects a fragile and increasingly volatile status quo in Yemen, where frontlines have largely frozen but cross-border missile and drone attacks continue to pose risks to Saudi Arabia and maritime traffic in the Red Sea and Bab al-Mandab Strait.
The coalition has repeatedly accused the Houthis of targeting civilian and commercial shipping in one of the world’s most strategic waterways, warning that such actions threaten global trade routes connecting Europe, Asia, and Africa.
Diplomatic efforts led by regional mediators including Oman and the United Nations have sought to sustain a fragile de-escalation framework, but officials and analysts caution that the latest escalation rhetoric could undermine progress toward a comprehensive political settlement.
If tensions continue to rise, observers warn that Yemen risks sliding back toward wider confrontation, with potential spillover effects on regional security and international shipping lanes.
