Houthi escalation of attacks proof of Iran’s ‘expansive agenda’ says Yemeni official

The Houthis have escalated their military offensive in Yemen and cross-border drone attacks in Saudi Arabia. (AFP file photo)

DUBAI: The increase in the number of Houthi operations in Yemen and across the border in Saudi Arabia are proof the militia is a proxy for Iran’s ‘expansive agenda’, a senior Yemeni official said.
Yemen’s minister of information, culture and tourism, Muamar Al-Eryani, said in a statement that the “Houthi’s recent escalation of attacks confirms that it does not make decisions on war and peace, but rather only follows Iran’s expansive agenda.”
The Houthis work under Tehran’s envoy to Yemen, Hassan Eyrlou, to harm Saudi Arabia and threaten security of international energy and international maritime navigation, Al-Eryani said.
And he said the Biden administration’s removal of the Houthis from the terrorism list sent the wrong signals to the militia, who opted to resume military operations instead of taking a path to diplomacy.
The Arab coalition on Saturday intercepted and destroyed a Houthi drone launched towards Khamis Mushait in Saudi Arabia, the latest in a series of attacks aimed at destroying vital facilities in the Kingdom.
“The increased attacks and violence… confirm that they do not believe in peace and their faith is based on killing and unable to play a role in realizing peace,” Al-Eryani said.