The Saudi-led military coalition supporting Yemen's internationally-recognised government said early on Friday that 11 civilians were wounded in what it described as a Houthi attack on the southern Saudi border region of Najran.

The coalition's spokesperson said in a statement the wounded included seven Saudi nationals, among them a woman and a four-year-old child who suffered second-degree burns, as well as one Yemeni, two Egyptians and one Pakistani national.

This came as a senior Saudi official said the kingdom expects imminent coordinated attacks from the north and south by Iraqi militias and Yemen's Houthis under the supervision of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.

The official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said intelligence reports from Saudi Arabia, the United States and other regional countries indicated civilian and economic sites could be targeted, including energy infrastructure, ports and airports.

Saudi Arabia had also observed drones and missiles being moved, suggesting coordinated operations from both directions, the official said.

The official said the reported threats were particularly alarming as Riyadh continued to pursue de-escalation and a negotiated settlement, adding that contacts with all parties, including Iran, and mediation efforts appeared to be moving "in the right direction."

The official said the planned attacks could be intended to disrupt those diplomatic efforts.

The official said Saudi-US cooperation remained "very high" at all levels, including operationally with US Central Command, and said Saudi Arabia was prepared to take all necessary measures to respond to any aggression.

On July 29, Saudi Arabia said it carried out strikes with Centcom against Iran-backed groups in Iraq after blaming them for drone attacks on its oil facilities. Iraqi militias said they would respond to the Saudi strikes.

Tensions between Saudi Arabia and the Houthis have escalated in recent weeks after the Iran-aligned group imposed what it describes as a naval blockade on the kingdom in the Red Sea and claimed a series of attacks on Saudi shipping and military targets.

Saudi Arabia has responded to the recent Houthi attacks with strikes on military sites in Yemen.

The attack on Saudi Arabia came after a military source said the Houthis killed at least 58 government troops in missile and drone attacks in Yemen on Thursday.

Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree said the rebels attacked government positions with ballistic missiles and drones in response to an alleged military buildup backed by Saudi Arabia.

The attacks killed at least 58 government troops and injured dozens, according to the military source who spoke on condition of anonymity. Medical sources had earlier spoken of 38 dead.

A military official described them as the deadliest between the two sides since 2022.

The defence ministry of Yemen's internationally recognised government said in a statement that its armed forces would respond to the missile and drone attacks "at the appropriate place and time." (Agencies)



Edited by Cecil Wong