SANAA/RIYADH, Nov. 12 (Xinhua) -- Yemen's Houthi group said Thursday it had launched fresh drone and ballistic missile attacks targeting Saudi oil infrastructure and military facilities, as fierce fighting between the Houthis and government forces intensified in southern Yemen near the strategic Bab al-Mandab Strait.
In a series of statements posted on social media platform X, Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Sarea said the group had launched a drone targeting Saudi oil giant Aramco in Riyadh and another targeting Pumping Station No. 7 along Saudi Arabia's East-West oil pipeline.
He added that a ballistic missile targeted an oil facility in Yanbu, a major oil hub on the Red Sea coast.
The group also targeted a military cargo aircraft at Sharurah Airport in the southern Najran region with a drone, and King Khalid Air Base in Khamis Mushait with a ballistic missile, according to Sarea.
Sarea claimed the operations had achieved their objectives but provided no details of damage.
The claims could not be independently verified, and Saudi authorities had not immediately commented on the reported attacks or provided details of possible casualties or damage.
Sarea also dismissed Saudi claims that two missiles had been intercepted over Mecca as fabricated.
Saudi-led coalition spokesperson Turki al-Malki said late Wednesday that Saudi air defenses had intercepted and destroyed two Houthi ballistic missiles in the country's western region.
He reported Thursday the interception and destruction of four drones, two over the Riyadh region and two over the eastern region.
Meanwhile, fierce fighting continued between the Houthis and government forces in Yemen's southern province of Lahj, near Bab al-Mandab, leaving dozens killed or wounded on both sides, a local military source told Xinhua.
The source, speaking on condition of anonymity, said clashes had intensified across key mountainous positions in southern Lahj over the past 24 hours, as Houthi fighters pressed attacks on government positions while government forces, supported by the Saudi-led coalition, deployed reinforcements to repel the offensive.
"Both sides are trying to gain control of key positions, and the fighting shows no sign of easing," the source said, adding that government forces were seeking to prevent further Houthi advances toward the strategic coastal areas.
In a separate statement, Sarea said the Houthis had fired six ballistic missiles at gatherings of opposing forces in Kharaz and Ras al-Arah, two areas in southern Lahj near Bab al-Mandab, claiming dozens of casualties.
Sarea also accused Saudi Arabia of carrying out 98 airstrikes and missile attacks across five Yemeni provinces over the past 24 hours, claiming civilian casualties.
The widening military confrontation has raised concerns across the region. Egypt and the Arab League on Thursday condemned continued Houthi missile and drone attacks on Saudi Arabia, warning that the escalation threatened regional security and stability. ■
