U.S. Department of Defense Condemns Deadly Houthi Attack on Saudi Border

The U.S. Department of Defense, Pentagon, condemned the reported deadly attack by the Houthis at the Saudi-Yemen border, which resulted in the deaths of several Bahraini forces and injuries to others. The Pentagon reacted on Wednesday, October 5, with a statement regarding the attacks on Monday, October 3. The Pentagon's statement on the recent attacks by the Iran-backed Houthis stated: 'These unacceptable attacks threaten the longest period of calm since the start of the war in Yemen.' The Houthi attacks occurred after a delegation from them was present in Saudi Arabia for peace negotiations. Previously, the U.S. Embassy in Manama, the capital of Bahrain, sent condolences to the families of the victims of the recent Houthi attack and stated that Washington supports its long-time ally. Reports indicate that two Bahraini military personnel were killed on Monday, October 3, in a Houthi drone attack at the Saudi border, and several others were injured. Mohammed Abdulsalam, the spokesman for the Houthis, also told Reuters: 'The Saudi-led military coalition killed 12 of our soldiers last month at the border with Yemen.' Last week, the Saudi government welcomed what it called 'positive results' from the first direct talks with senior Houthi officials. Yemen has experienced relative calm for a year as peace negotiations intensified. Saudi and Houthi officials met for five days in Riyadh earlier this month, and further negotiations are expected. The Houthis have been at war with the Saudi-led military coalition, which intervened in favor of the Yemeni government, since 2015. This war has left hundreds of thousands dead, and 80% of the Yemeni population relies on foreign aid. The regional coalition and the Houthis have accused each other of violating the ceasefire in Yemen. Despite ongoing peace negotiations, the Houthis showcased their ballistic missiles and drones.