Saudi King Salman condemns Houthis as 'terrorist militia' in rare statement

Saudi Arabia's King Salman condemned Yemen's Houthi movement as a "terrorist militia" on Tuesday, after authorities said the group attempted to target the holy city of Mecca.

Riyadh faces a widening offensive by the Iran-aligned group, which has seized large areas of Yemen's Red Sea coast in recent weeks.

Why did King Salman condemn the Houthis as a terrorist militia?

In a rare public statement, the 90-year-old king praised Saudi armed forces and security services for defending the kingdom and denounced the Houthis' attempt "to target Mecca" as "a provocation to Muslims around the world," the official Saudi Press Agency reported.

The statement came as the Houthis accused Saudi Arabia of carrying out a series of deadly airstrikes in Yemen, including attacks the group said killed civilians and detainees, as Riyadh seeks to halt its recent territorial gains.

What territory have the Houthis seized in Yemen?

The Houthis have seized large areas along Yemen's Red Sea coast in recent weeks, intensifying concerns over regional security and shipping through the Bab al-Mandab strait, a key maritime route connecting the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden. The advance has also triggered a new wave of displacement, with the United Nations saying Tuesday that the number of people displaced by the latest fighting could rise from more than 130,000 currently to over 230,000 in the coming months.

The Houthi gains have also raised concerns about the security of two strategic waterways, the Bab al-Mandab and the Strait of Hormuz, both critical routes for global energy shipments. Saudi Arabia, which backs Yemen's internationally recognized government, has responded with airstrikes against Houthi-held areas as it seeks to contain the group's advance.

What has the fighting between Saudi Arabia and the Houthis involved?

The Houthis have retaliated with attacks on Saudi territory, including a strike targeting Riyadh over the weekend, the first such attack on the capital in years. The group said Tuesday that Saudi airstrikes on a prison in northwestern Yemen had killed nine detainees, and that Saudi strikes on the Red Sea port city of Mocha killed six civilians, including two children, while two more civilians were killed in Al-Jawf province. These claims could not immediately be independently verified.

The Houthis have also targeted Saudi oil facilities, including sites belonging to state oil giant Saudi Aramco in the Red Sea port city of Yanbu. Riyadh has separately said its East-West Pipeline, a key route for transporting crude to the Red Sea for export, was shut after drone attacks launched from Iraq.

Is Saudi Arabia seeking outside support against the Houthis?

The escalating conflict has prompted diplomatic efforts for outside support. Yemen's government and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman have reportedly sought assistance from US President Donald Trump in confronting the Houthis.