India has condemned the latest Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia, calling the targeting of civilian and economic facilities “unacceptable” and warning that the strikes undermine regional security and threaten freedom of navigation through the strategically important Bab-el-Mandeb Strait.
Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthi group launched a wave of missile and drone attacks on September 8 across southern Saudi Arabia, striking areas including Abha, Khamis Mushait, Jazan and Najran. Saudi authorities said 73 civilians, including women and children, were injured, while several energy facilities were hit and fires were reported.
Responding to the attacks on September 9, Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said India “condemned the attacks on Saudi sovereign territory, especially the targeting of civilian and economic facilities”. The statement comes amid a sharp escalation in fighting between the Houthis and Saudi-backed forces in Yemen, raising concerns that the violence could widen further across the region.
Civilians Caught In Escalation
The latest attacks marked a significant escalation in the conflict, with the Houthis targeting multiple locations in southwestern Saudi Arabia. According to Saudi-led coalition spokesperson Major General Turki Al-Maliki, civilian and economic sites in Abha, Khamis Mushait, Jazan and Najran were struck, leaving 73 civilians injured. The Saudi Energy Ministry separately confirmed that several energy-sector facilities and installations in the southern part of the country had been hit. Fires reportedly broke out at multiple sites, with some operations temporarily halted following the strikes.
Saudi Arabia strongly condemned the attacks, describing them as a dangerous escalation and a violation of its sovereignty. Riyadh said it would take necessary measures to protect its territory, national assets and residents, while also calling for an immediate end to the attacks and threats to maritime navigation. The Houthis, meanwhile, have presented their attacks as retaliation for Saudi military action in Yemen. This cycle of attack and retaliation has increased fears that civilians on both sides could face greater risks as the conflict intensifies.
India’s response focused particularly on the wider implications of the attacks. Jaiswal said the strikes not only targeted Saudi territory but also “undermined regional security and stability” and “threatened freedom of navigation in the Bab-el-Mandeb”. The waterway, which connects the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden, is a crucial international shipping route. Any prolonged disruption could affect commercial shipping and energy supplies well beyond the immediate conflict zone.
Yemen Conflict Reignites
The latest violence is rooted in Yemen’s long-running civil war, which began escalating after the Houthis seized large parts of the country, including the capital Sanaa, in 2014. Saudi Arabia intervened the following year at the head of a coalition supporting Yemen’s internationally recognised government. Years of fighting caused widespread destruction and a severe humanitarian crisis before a UN-brokered truce in 2022 significantly reduced large-scale hostilities.
That relative calm has now come under severe pressure. Fighting between the Iran-aligned Houthis and Saudi-backed Yemeni forces has intensified in recent weeks, with the Saudi-backed government launching a counteroffensive against Houthi-held areas. The latest cross-border attacks followed an escalation inside Yemen, including a reported Saudi-led strike on a prison in Jawf province that the Houthis said killed civilians. The Houthis subsequently intensified attacks against Saudi targets, while Saudi-backed forces continued military operations in Yemen.
The consequences extend beyond the battlefield. The Bab-el-Mandeb is one of the world’s key maritime chokepoints, and its security is closely linked to trade between Europe, Asia and the Middle East. Saudi Arabia has also become more dependent on infrastructure along its Red Sea coast for energy exports amid disruptions elsewhere in the region. The attacks therefore raise concerns not only about further civilian casualties but also about the impact of prolonged instability on shipping, energy markets and regional economies.
The diplomatic stakes are also rising. Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif said attacks on Saudi Arabia could potentially activate the recently signed Mecca Joint Defence Agreement involving Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Türkiye. However, Pakistan clarified on September 10 that no military response under the agreement had been discussed and that no immediate military measures were being considered. The development illustrates how a conflict centred on Yemen could draw in additional countries if the escalation continues.
The Logical Indian’s Perspective
The latest escalation is a reminder that military action rarely remains confined to the battlefield. When civilian areas and essential economic infrastructure become targets, ordinary people are often the first to bear the consequences, while disruption to vital waterways and energy facilities can affect communities far beyond the region. India’s condemnation of attacks on civilians and economic facilities rightly places the safety of people and regional stability at the centre of the conversation. At the same time, lasting peace in Yemen and the wider region cannot come from an endless cycle of retaliation.
It requires sustained diplomacy, accountability, humanitarian protection and a genuine commitment from all sides to step back from escalation. Protecting civilians, keeping vital trade routes open and creating space for dialogue must remain priorities even when political and military tensions run high. As the region faces another dangerous moment, can stronger international diplomacy help break the cycle of retaliation before more civilians pay the price?
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Our response to a media query on the reported Houthi attacks in Saudi Arabia
— Randhir Jaiswal (@MEAIndia) September 9, 2026
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