'Unacceptable': India condemns Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia's energy facilities

India has strongly criticised the latest Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia, warning that strikes against the kingdom's territory and vital infrastructure pose a threat to regional stability and shipping routes.

The statement from New Delhi came after Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthi rebels claimed responsibility for attacks on energy facilities in southern Saudi Arabia.

India flags threat to regional security

External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said India “condemned the attacks on Saudi sovereign territory, especially the targeting of civilian and economic facilities”.

He added that such attacks that “undermined regional security and stability and threatened freedom of navigation in the Bab-el-Mandeb were unacceptable”.

The remarks marked India's first official response to the latest Houthi strikes. The group said on Tuesday that it had targeted energy facilities belonging to Saudi Aramco as part of a “broad operation”.

Saudi authorities reported fires at several oil installations and utility sites following the attacks. The strikes also left 73 people injured.

Bab-el-Mandeb becomes more important

The attacks come at a time when the Bab-el-Mandeb has taken on greater significance for Saudi Arabia's energy exports.

The narrow waterway connects the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden and provides an important route for shipping. Southern Saudi Arabia is home to major energy infrastructure, including the Jizan refinery, which has the capacity to process 4,00,000 barrels of crude oil per day.

Saudi Arabia has become increasingly reliant on the Red Sea route after Iran's closure of the Strait of Hormuz. Between March and July, Saudi seaborne crude exports through the Bab-el-Mandeb were eight times higher than during the same period in 2025.

Yemen conflict sees fresh escalation

The latest attacks come amid a sharp rise in fighting between the Houthis and forces backed by Saudi Arabia in Yemen. The escalation is being viewed as the most serious since a UN-brokered ceasefire brought widespread fighting to a halt in 2022.

The Houthis announced a blockade of Saudi shipping in July and began advancing towards government-held areas near the Bab-el-Mandeb.

India continues to count Saudi Arabia among its top three energy suppliers, even as its purchases of Russian oil have increased.

Pakistan and Turkiye have also condemned the Houthi attacks. Turkiye recently signed the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement with Saudi Arabia.