By Asha Elmi - Reporter
MOGADISHU, September 8, 2026 - Somalia on Tuesday condemned attacks by Yemen's Houthi militia on civilian and economic sites in southern Saudi Arabia, calling for an immediate halt to the violence and renewed efforts to reach a political settlement in Yemen.
In a statement, Somalia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the attacks, which Saudi authorities said wounded dozens of civilians including women and children, were a serious violation of international law and a dangerous escalation.
Saudi authorities said Houthi attacks on the cities of Abha, Khamis Mushait, Jazan and Najran wounded 73 people. Saudi energy authorities also reported fires at energy facilities in the south and temporary disruptions to some operations.
Somalia said the targeting of civilians and civilian infrastructure threatened security in the Red Sea and the wider Horn of Africa.
"As a littoral State, Somalia views with serious concern the continued targeting of commercial vessels and the threat to freedom of navigation," the ministry said.
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It called for an immediate cessation of all attacks and renewed commitment to a political settlement in Yemen.
The Houthis have said their attacks were carried out in response to Saudi military action in Yemen. The latest strikes mark a sharp escalation in fighting after a period of relative calm following a 2022 truce.
Somalia said it stood in full solidarity with Saudi Arabia, its leadership and its people, and wished those injured a swift recovery.
The statement comes as the latest Houthi attacks have raised wider concerns about regional stability and maritime security in the Red Sea, a key route for international trade.