Houthis accuse Saudi Arabia of deadly strikes as thousands flee Yemen
Yemen's Houthis accused Saudi Arabia on Tuesday of launching deadly strikes that killed civilians and prison inmates, as Riyadh seeks to repel a Houthi offensive that has seized strategic territory along the Red Sea coast. The recent Houthi takeover has killed hundreds, forced thousands to flee, and heightened fears for global shipping through the Bab al-Mandab strait. The United Nations forecast displacement could swell from over 130,000 to more than 230,000 in coming months. Saudi airstrikes have targeted Houthi positions, while the group has retaliated with attacks on Saudi territory, including a strike on Riyadh. The conflict has become the most active front of a broader Middle East war that began in February with US-Israeli strikes on Iran. G7 leaders called on the Houthis to cease military actions and urged Tehran to end its support. Britain and France pledged limited military aid to Saudi Arabia, while US envoy Steve Witkoff met Iran's foreign minister in New York.