Houthis threaten more strikes on Saudi Arabia as WFP warns food aid is cut off

Houthi spokesman Yahya Saree said attacks on Saudi airports and oil infrastructure would continue, warning staff at targeted sites to "evacuate them immediately" because they were "legitimate targets." Explosions were heard again over Riyadh on Wednesday, and air raid alerts were issued for Riyadh and Kharj province. Saudi-led coalition spokesman Turki al-Maliki said a missile aimed at the capital was "intercepted and destroyed." A day earlier, debris from two intercepted missiles injured four people and damaged 15 homes in Riyadh.

The World Food Programme said the Saudi-Houthi fighting is cutting food aid to about 800,000 people. More than 600,000 people in the city of Taiz depend on aid, and about 500,000 children under 5 across Yemen suffer from severe acute malnutrition, the agency said. The Houthis are holding 37 WFP staff members. On Tuesday, coalition strikes hit oil sites in Sanaa, Dhamar and Saada.

Afrah Alzouba, foreign minister of Yemen's internationally recognized government, asked the United States for training and intelligence support for Yemen's armed forces and coast guard, and for expanded sanctions on the Houthis. "We are not calling for starting any negotiations," she said. She said Yemen had raised with China the Houthis' alleged use of Chinese components. The Wall Street Journal reported that the Houthis are trying to build their own medium-range ballistic missiles with Chinese-supplied parts, while Conflict Armament Research said the group is expanding its supply chains beyond Iran-linked networks.