Nigeria condemns Houthi attack on Saudi Arabia

The Nigerian government has condemned the recent attack on Saudi Arabia by the Yemeni rebel group, the Houthis, which injured 73 people and destroyed an oil installation.

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The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in a statement issued on Tuesday night, warned of the impact of the escalating crisis on regional stability and global energy supplies.

It also said the escalation threatens the kingdom’s sovereignty.

Nigeria said it regarded the “fresh hostilities” as a “serious threat”. It urged the warring parties to “uphold international law, exercise maximum restraint, and refrain from further actions that could escalate the situation, endanger civilian lives.”

The Houthis targeted five cities in Riyadh and have been targeting its tankers in the Red Sea. When confirming the Monday attack, the group said it targeted Saudi Arabia’s state oil company in Abha, Najran, on the Yemeni border, and the Aramco facility in Jizan.

The group said they launched a broad operation deep into Saudi territory using drones and missiles to strike an airbase in the southern city of Khamis Mushait, according to Al Jazeera.

The impact on civilians suggests that this is likely one of the largest attacks on Saudi Arabia in recent years, especially since the US and Israel launched attacks on Iran on 28 February, leading to reprisal attacks on US interests in Saudi Arabia and other Gulf countries. Saudi authorities said women and children were among the 73 people hurt.

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The Houthis and Saudi Arabia have been in a long-running conflict, but have maintained a ceasefire in recent years. The conflict escalated following the US-Israel war on Iran. PREMIUM TIMES reports that a strike exchange between the two parties in July opened a new front in the US-Iran war. The Houthis broke the truce after accusing Saudi Arabia of maintaining a blockade that has worsened the economic situation in the Yemeni capital Sanaa and other parts of the country controlled by the Houthis.

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Oil prices rose past $100 (£74) a barrel on Wednesday for the first time since July.

Saudi Arabia launched retaliatory strikes against the group a day after the Monday attack. On Wednesday, the Houthis reported more than 30 Saudi strikes on several regions in Yemen.

“Saudi enemy aircraft launched 32 airstrikes on various areas across the governorates of Marib, Al-Jawf, Taiz and Hodeidah over the past few hours,” the rebel group declared.