RIYADH: Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani, Qatar’s prime minister and foreign minister, on Wednesday condemned recent Houthi attacks targeting civilian and commercial sites in southern Saudi Arabia.

His comments came during a telephone conversation with the Saudi foreign minister, Prince Faisal bin Farhan. They also discussed the latest developments in the region, and diplomatic efforts by Saudi Arabia and Qatar to deescalate tensions and preserve regional security and stability, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

Saudi authorities said 73 civilians, including women and children, have been injured in attacks this week by the Iran-backed Houthis on the southern cities of Abha, Khamis Mushait, Jazan and Najran. Operations at some energy facilities were temporarily halted as a result of the strikes.

The Coalition to Restore Legitimacy in Yemen described the attacks as a “dangerous escalation” and said it would take measures to protect the Kingdom’s sovereignty, civilians and national assets.

Qatar’s Foreign Ministry on Tuesday separately condemned the attacks in similar terms, describing them as a violation of Saudi sovereignty and international law.

Doha reaffirmed its “full solidarity” with Saudi Arabia and its support for measures to protect its sovereignty, security and territorial integrity. Saudi security is an integral part of the collective security of Gulf Cooperation Council states, Qatari authorities added.

They also called on the international community to take a firm stance against the attacks and to ensure all relevant UN Security Council resolutions concerning Yemen and security of navigation in the Red Sea were fully implemented.

Fighting between the Houthis and forces aligned with Yemen’s internationally recognized government has intensified in recent weeks, raising fears of a return to wider conflict in the country after a UN-brokered truce in 2022 largely halted years of direct conflict.

The Houthis, who control Sanaa and much of northern Yemen, declared a naval blockade of Saudi Arabia in July, and have since stepped up attacks on the Kingdom and vessels in the Red Sea. Coalition-backed Yemeni government forces have launched an offensive against Houthi-held areas on several fronts.