Saudi Arabia’s Grand Mufti, Sheikh Saleh bin Fawzan Al-Fawzan, has called on the kingdom’s troops to be prepared to defend the country against Iran-backed Houthi forces, in a rare and strongly worded statement as violence escalates in Yemen.
Addressing soldiers stationed along Saudi Arabia’s borders, Al-Fawzan urged them to remain prepared to carry out their duties and defend the kingdom’s territory. His statement, carried by the Saudi Press Agency, drew extensively on Quranic verses and sayings attributed to the Prophet Muhammad concerning sacrifice and defence.
The message comes after weeks of intensified fighting between the Houthis and Saudi-backed Yemeni government forces, with the Houthis launching missile and drone attacks towards Saudi Arabia and Riyadh responding with airstrikes.
Meanwhile, the humanitarian situation in Yemen is deteriorating rapidly as fighting spreads across several fronts. The United Nations said more than 130,000 people had been displaced inside the country since the beginning of September, adding to an already severe humanitarian crisis.
The renewed fighting has also placed further pressure on Yemen’s already weakened health system. Hospitals and health centres have been affected by the violence, while medical facilities face shortages of medicines, beds and staff as increasing numbers of wounded civilians seek treatment.
The conflict has also raised concerns over regional security, particularly around the Red Sea and the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, a major international shipping route. Recent fighting has spread along parts of Yemen’s western coast, forcing tens of thousands of people to flee their homes.
In Gaza, meanwhile, Israel’s military said two reservists were killed after a military drone crashed and exploded at a post in northern Gaza. The soldiers, identified as Nadav Kali and Ofek Moalem, were critically wounded in the incident and later died in hospital.
The Israeli military described the incident as a serious safety event and said an investigation was underway. The deaths came months after a ceasefire reduced the intensity of the fighting in Gaza, although Israeli military operations and violence have continued.
Meanwhile, former UNRWA chief Philippe Lazzarini said members of the US-created Board of Peace have held discussions with the UN agency despite public statements that it would have no role in Gaza’s future. Lazzarini told The Associated Press that members of a Palestinian technocratic committee want to work with UNRWA, while a Board of Peace official confirmed that meetings with the agency had taken place.
