• A Houthi military official says the group will not hesitate to attack US interests in the Middle East if Washington enters Yemen’s conflict in support of Saudi Arabia.

Yemeni government forces thwart Houthi attack near key southern provinces

The Yemeni government’s armed forces have thwarted an attack and several infiltration attempts by the Houthis aiming to reach positions near the vital road linking the southern and southwestern provinces of Aden, Taiz and Lahj, the Ministry of Defence said in a statement.

According to the official spokesperson of the Yemeni armed forces, “clashes ensued”, which forced “the attackers to retreat” and inflicted heavy losses in lives and equipment.

“We affirm that our armed forces stationed on those fronts have regained the initiative, are highly prepared, and continue to repel attacks and infiltration attempts,” the spokesperson said.

Yemeni forces release footage of attack on Houthi ‘fortifications’ in al-Jawf

The Yemeni government forces have released footage they say shows strikes on Houthi “fortifications” on fronts east of al-Hazm, the capital of the al-Jawf governorate in northeastern Yemen.

Saudi Aramco chief says any oil interruption can be fixed ‘within days’

Saudi Aramco’s President and CEO, Amin Nasser, has told Nikkei Asia news magazine that it can restore disrupted oil operations within days and is seeking to build alternative export routes.

The state oil giant is studying “a fourth and a fifth route” for crude oil exports in addition to its three primary ones, Nasser told the publication in Tokyo.

Aramco is considering expanding overseas storage capacity, including in Japan, to strengthen its ability to withstand disruptions, he added.

The company faces increasing attacks from Yemen’s Houthi group, which is also blocking passage to Saudi ships through the Bab al-Mandeb Strait – a critical export route in the Red Sea. The Strait of Hormuz remains largely closed because of the US-Israel war on Iran.

Saudi Arabia’s Civil Defence issues danger alerts in several areas, including Mecca and Jeddah

Saudi Arabia’s Civil Defence has issued a flurry of warning alerts of potential dangers in the holy city of Mecca, the northwestern area of Tabuk, the Red Sea areas of Jeddah and Yanbu, and the southern area of Taif.

Saudi Arabia’s Civil Defence says danger has now passed over Mecca, Jeddah and other areas

Saudi Arabia’s Civil Defence has said that the potential danger has now passed in the holy city of Mecca, the northwestern area of Tabuk, the Red Sea areas of Jeddah and Yanbu, and the southern area of Taif.

The brief alerts were the first of the day to be issued by Saudi authorities.

UN rights chief ‘appalled’ by Yemen conflict’s growing civilian toll

The UN rights chief has voiced outrage at the growing civilian toll in Yemen as the conflict between the Houthis and government forces and their allies intensifies.

The recent Houthi takeover of Yemen’s Red Sea coast has left hundreds dead and heightened fears over global trade and shipping through the vital Bab al-Mandeb strait.

It has also forced thousands to flee, with the United Nations on Tuesday forecasting the number of displaced people could swell from 130,000 today to more than 230,000 in the coming months.

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk said he’s “appalled” at the situation.

“As if the people of Yemen haven’t already endured enough misery, civilians are now bearing the brunt of this latest upsurge in fighting. Civilians must never be targeted, and their protection must be the overriding priority,” he said.

“Warring parties must distinguish at all times between civilians and combatants and between civilian objects and military objectives. The people of Yemen cannot withstand another full-scale conflict.”

Saudi-led coalition in Yemen says it intercepted 6 ballistic missiles fired by Houthis

Turki al-Malki, the spokesperson for the Saudi-led coalition in Yemen, has said its forces destroyed six ballistic missiles launched by Iran-backed Houthis.

“Escalation and violations by the terrorist Houthi militia will be dealt with firmly,” al-Malki added.

Earlier, Saudi Civil Defence briefly issued danger alerts for the holy city of Mecca, the northwestern area of Tabuk, the Red Sea areas of Jeddah and Yanbu and the southern area of Taif.

Egypt says it stands by Saudi Arabia as it comes under attack

Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty made the remarks to Al Jazeera as Saudi Arabia said it intercepted six ballistic missiles fired by the Houthis in Yemen.

“The security of Saudi Arabia is an integral part of regional security and Egypt stands by the kingdom,” he said.

On the Palestinian issue, he said Cairo awaits “a positive initiative from Israel regarding the deployment of the international stabilisation force in Gaza”.

Abdelatty also said Palestinian factions have taken a responsible stance on the handover of weapons that deserves praise.

“The displacement of Palestinians from their land is a red line and we will not allow it to happen,” he added.

Greek-operated air defence system intercepts ballistic missile and drone over Saudi

Greek ⁠military ⁠personnel have intercepted a ballistic missile and a drone in Saudi Arabia thanks to their air defence system, Reuters news agency reports.

The incident happened in ⁠the wider Yanbu region, home to major oil refining facilities, Greek security sources told ⁠Reuters.

We reported earlier that the Saudi Civil Defence issued alerts for the holy city of Mecca, the northwestern area of Tabuk, the Red Sea areas of Jeddah and Yanbu and the southern area of Taif after the Saudi-led coalition in Yemen said it intercepted six ballistic missiles fired by the Houthis.

This is the fifth time the Greek-operated system ⁠has been used in combat since the US and Israel ⁠launched their war on Iran at ⁠the end of February, underscoring the widening military role of European allies in defending Gulf energy infrastructure.

Since 2021, ‌Greece has used a US-made Patriot air defence battery operated by Greek personnel in ‌Saudi ‌Arabia, under an agreement to help protect the kingdom’s energy facilities.

Yemeni government forces target Houthi troops in Mocha, Taiz: Spokesperson

The spokesperson for the armed forces of Yemen’s internationally recognised government has given a brief update on X, in which he said that Houthi troops in Mocha and Taiz in southwestern Yemen were targeted in attacks.

France to send troops to protect Saudi port city Yanbu, says Macron

French President Emmanuel Macron has said that France will send troops and defence systems to Saudi Arabia to help protect the Red Sea port city of Yanbu, which is key for energy transport.

“We are going to send military resources, that is to say, soldiers, radar systems and defence systems, to protect this site – not to get us involved in any conflicts, but to protect this site,” Macron said in an interview with TF1 and France 2 TV.

Saudi-led coalition forces fighting Yemen’s Houthis said earlier on Thursday they have intercepted six ballistic missiles allegedly fired by the Iran-allied group towards the cities of Yanbu and Taif.

Kuwait, Bahrain, GCC condemn Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia

The foreign ministries of Kuwait and Bahrain, as well as the Gulf Cooperation Council’s (GCC) secretary-general, have condemned Houthi attacks on the Saudi cities of Taif and Yanbu.

The Kuwaiti Foreign Ministry said the country rejects “hostile aggressions” against Saudi Arabia, according to the ministry’s statement.

Bahrain’s Foreign Ministry’s statement said: “Saudi Arabia’s security and stability are an integral part of Bahrain’s national security.”

GCC Secretary-General Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi said in a statement that the council’s countries “fully support” measures Saudi Arabia might take in response.

Saudi-led coalition forces fighting Yemen’s Houthis said earlier today that they have intercepted six ballistic missiles fired towards the cities of Yanbu and Taif.

Saudi Arabia issues warning for Jazan Province, stands down shortly after

Saudi Arabia’s General Directorate of Civil Defence issued a warning on its National Early Warning Platform for Jazan Province, although the alert has now been stood down.

The defence agency said “the danger has passed in Jazan Province,” in a further update on X.