India on Wednesday issued a strong condemnation of the recent attacks launched by Yemen’s Houthi rebels against key energy and civilian infrastructure in Saudi Arabia, warning that the escalations severely undermine regional security and jeopardize vital maritime transit routes.
Addressing the situation, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal stated that India “condemned the attacks on Saudi sovereign territory, especially the targeting of civilian and economic facilities.” He added that actions threatening freedom of navigation through the strategic Bab-el-Mandeb strait are “unacceptable.”
The statement follows a broad Houthi operation targeting state-owned oil giant Saudi Aramco’s facilities in southern Saudi Arabia. According to Saudi authorities, the strikes ignited fires across multiple oil and utility installations, leaving at least 73 people injured. Southern Saudi Arabia houses critical energy infrastructure, including the Jizan refinery, which processes 400,000 barrels of crude daily.
The sharp escalation marks the most serious clash between Iran-backed Houthis and Saudi-supported government forces since the 2022 UN-brokered ceasefire. Conflict has intensified around the Bab-el-Mandeb strait following a Houthi blockade on Saudi shipping announced in July.
The security of the Red Sea shipping corridor has become paramount. Following Iran’s closure of the Strait of Hormuz, Saudi Arabia has relied heavily on the Bab-el-Mandeb for seaborne crude exports—seeing an eightfold increase in traffic through the waterway compared to last year. Despite increased purchases of Russian crude, Saudi Arabia remains one of India’s top three crude oil suppliers.
The strikes have drawn widespread international backlash, with nations including Pakistan and Turkiye also condemning the attacks.
