Iran Denies Backing Houthi Attacks as Saudi Arabia Faces Fresh Missile and Drone Strikes

Iran has denied encouraging Yemen’s Houthi movement to intensify attacks against Saudi Arabia, rejecting accusations made by Riyadh as missile and drone strikes continue across the region.

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei said on Friday that Tehran had played no role in the group’s military operations.

“The Islamic Republic of Iran rejects any claim that Iran has played a role in Yemeni (Houthi) operations,” Baqaei said in a statement.

He maintained that Yemen’s armed forces acted according to their own interests and assessments, describing allegations of Iranian involvement as lacking credibility.

Baqaei added that Iran did not believe escalating tensions served the interests of any party.

Saudi Arabia Accuses Iran of Encouraging Houthi Offensive

The denial followed comments by Saudi Deputy Minister for Public Diplomacy Dr Rayed Krimly, who said a day earlier that Iran had encouraged the Houthis’ latest escalation against the kingdom.

Krimly also said the Houthis had rejected an offer to meet in Oman at the beginning of the latest round of hostilities.

In response, Baqaei reiterated Tehran’s willingness to mediate between the parties, saying Iran had consistently been prepared to use its diplomatic channels to help end the fighting.

The Saudi-led military coalition, which has supported Yemen’s internationally recognised government for more than a decade, reported continued interceptions of missiles and drones on Friday.

Saudi Coalition Reports Intercepting Missiles and Drones

A spokesman for the Saudi-led coalition said its forces had intercepted and destroyed three drones in southern Saudi Arabia and Riyadh, along with two cruise missiles over the Red Sea.

The spokesman also reported that a ballistic missile had been intercepted over Yanbu, a Red Sea coastal city that hosts the terminus of a major oil pipeline.

The interceptions came amid repeated Houthi attacks on Saudi targets, including oil facilities, Red Sea tankers and Riyadh’s international airport.

One attack on the airport last week reportedly killed 13 people.

Houthi Offensive Intensifies Along Yemen’s Red Sea Coast

The attacks have increased since the Houthis launched a rapid offensive in Yemen in September, capturing strategic territory previously held by government forces along the Red Sea coast.

The areas overlook a major chokepoint for international shipping, adding to concerns over regional trade and maritime security.

Yemeni government forces have since launched a counteroffensive, supported by Saudi air power, in an effort to recover territory seized by the Houthis. However, they have not yet reversed the group’s gains.

The pressure on Saudi Arabia, the world‘s largest oil exporter, has also come as global energy markets face disruption following Iran’s closure of the Strait of Hormuz at the beginning of the wider Middle East war in February.

Two Missiles Strike Aden Airport Perimeter

Separately, Yemen’s government-aligned security authorities reported that two missiles landed within the perimeter of Aden airport on Friday.

The local security office said the incident was the second of its kind in less than a week. No fatalities were reported in the latest airport attack.

A Houthi statement attributed to a military source said the operation targeted the headquarters of Saudi forces and a weapons depot.

Yemen’s Information Ministry said a Yemenia Airways flight travelling from Aden to Cairo narrowly avoided being struck while preparing for takeoff.

According to the ministry, the missiles landed approximately 500 metres from the aircraft and about 100 metres from the centre of the runway.

The ministry condemned the attack, saying it threatened passengers and flight crews and endangered aviation safety.

Deadly Attack on Presidential Palace in Aden

The airport incident followed a missile strike on the presidential palace in Aden on Thursday that killed five people and injured 16 others, according to Yemen’s health minister.

Prime Minister Shaya al-Zindani condemned the attack in a post on X, describing it as a continuation of what he called the Houthis’ criminal pattern of violence.

A Yemeni government minister, speaking anonymously, said the missiles had hit command centres used by Yemeni and Saudi coalition forces within the palace complex.

Media outlets affiliated with the Houthis said the strike targeted military operations headquarters at Al-Maashiq Palace, which they described as being led by Saudi officers.

The latest attacks have added to the fighting between the Houthis and Yemen’s internationally recognised government, while Saudi Arabia continues to report missile and drone threats against its territory.