Yemen's Houthis claim new attacks on Saudi targets

Yemen's Houthi group said Tuesday it had launched a new wave of drone and missile attacks on several Saudi targets, while claiming to have repelled a fresh ground offensive near the strategic Bab al-Mandab Strait.

Houthi military spokesman Yahya Sarea said in a series of statements posted on social media platform X that a ballistic missile targeted the Saudi Defense Ministry in Riyadh, claiming the missile scored a "direct hit."

Sarea added that two other ballistic missiles targeted Saudi military transport aircraft, one at Najran Airport in Najran province and the other at King Khalid Air Base in Khamis Mushait, Asir province, asserting both attacks "successfully achieved their objectives."

He also claimed a drone targeted Abha International Airport in the southwestern Asir province and "accurately hit" its target, causing disruption to flight operations.

The Houthi group also said it had launched a ballistic missile at the Ras Tanura oil refinery in Saudi Arabia's Eastern Province, claiming the attack caused large fires at the facility.

In a statement on social media platform X, Houthi military spokesman Yahya Sarea claimed that the missile had "accurately" struck the refinery, without providing further details.

The group also noted that in the past 24 hours, the Saudi-led coalition has launched 81 air raids and missile attacks, causing civilian casualties, which has brought the total number of strikes to 3,379.

On the same day, the Saudi-led coalition said it had intercepted two ballistic missiles launched by Yemen's Houthi group toward the Saudi capital Riyadh.

Earlier in the day, the coalition said Saudi air defenses had intercepted and destroyed three ballistic missiles launched by the Houthi group toward Saudi Arabia's Eastern Province.

In a separate announcement, the coalition said it had intercepted and destroyed four Houthi drones launched toward the kingdom's southern region.

On Tuesday night, a spokesperson for Yemen's government forces noted that the government troops will continue to intensify their offensive against the Houthis. Over the past several hours, they carried out more than 1,000 precision strikes and thwarted Houthi infiltration attempts on multiple fronts, making further gains on the battlefield.

Yemen has been mired in conflict since late 2014, when the Houthis seized the capital Sanaa and much of northern Yemen, prompting the Saudi Arabia-led coalition to intervene in 2015 in support of the Yemeni government.

Yemen's Houthis claim new attacks on Saudi targets

Yemen's Houthis claim new attacks on Saudi targets

Yemen's Houthis claim new attacks on Saudi targets

Yemen's Houthis claim new attacks on Saudi targets

Yemen's Houthis claim new attacks on Saudi targets

Li Hongzhong, vice chairman of the National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee, met with a delegation led by Bernd Lange, chair of the European Parliament's Committee on International Trade, in Beijing on Wednesday.

Li, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, said the nature of China-EU trade relations is complementarity of strengths and mutual benefit.

As comprehensive strategic partners, China and the EU can fully find mutually beneficial solutions through equal dialogue, Li said, adding that the NPC is willing to work with the European Parliament to consolidate the sound momentum of exchanges and play a positive role in promoting the sound and stable development of China-EU ties.

Lange said the European Parliament's Committee on International Trade stands ready to strengthen dialogue and cooperation with the Chinese side and promote the stable and balanced growth of EU-China trade.

Senior Chinese legislator meets European Parliament trade committee delegation