KOR
▲ Airstrike on Saudi International Airport
As attacks by Yemen's Houthi rebels targeting the Saudi mainland intensify, the foreign ministers of Saudi Arabia and Iran have discussed ways to ease regional tensions, Reuters reported on the 11th, local time.
According to Saudi state news agencies, Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan held a telephone conversation with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi that day to discuss the recent escalation of regional conflicts and efforts to reduce tensions.
In connection with this, Araghchi stated on Telegram that "Iran is ready to help Saudi Arabia and Yemen initiate dialogue and achieve a political solution."
This marks the first time that contact between the foreign ministers of the two countries has been publicly confirmed since the Iran-backed Houthi rebels stepped up their attacks on Saudi Arabia.
Saudi Arabia supports the government forces in the Yemen civil war, while the Houthi rebels are known to be an Iran-backed proxy force.
This contact took place amid heightened regional tensions following large-scale civilian casualties in Saudi Arabia caused by Houthi attacks.
The Houthi rebels have attacked the Saudi mainland multiple times over the past week. Notably, an attack targeting King Khalid International Airport in the Saudi capital of Riyadh on the 10th left 13 people dead and more than 300 injured.
The dead included four Saudi nationals, as well as nationals from the United States, Bangladesh, Jordan, Palestine, Syria, Sudan, Egypt, and India.
Subsequently, on the 11th, an unidentified projectile struck King Khalid International Airport, killing one Pakistani national and injuring 11 others.
The Houthi rebels have also warned of further attacks.
According to the Houthi-run Saba news agency, Yahya Saree, the military spokesperson for the Houthi rebels, stated on X that day, "We reiterate our warning to all airlines, experts, airport workers, and travelers not to use Saudi airports and airspace."
Saree emphasized, "All airports in Saudi Arabia, except for the airports in the Islamic holy sites of Mecca and Medina, are targets for attack and operational arenas for our military forces, and Saudi Arabia bears responsibility for all consequences arising from interception failures."
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.
