Iran on Friday (Oct 17) denied involvement in attacks by Yemen's Houthi rebels against Saudi Arabia, a day after Riyadh accused Tehran of encouraging the group's latest escalation against the kingdom. Iran also renewed its offer to help end the hostilities.&nbsp;"The Islamic Republic of Iran rejects any claim that Iran has played a role in Yemeni (Houthi) operations," Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei said in a statement.&nbsp;"Yemen's armed forces act according to their own interests and assessments, and such claims are not credible to those familiar with relations between Iran and its friends. Nevertheless, Iran does not consider an escalation of tensions to be in the interests of any party," he added.&nbsp;The denial came after Saudi Deputy Minister for Public Diplomacy Dr Rayed Krimly accused Tehran of having "encouraged" the escalation. Krimly also alleged that Iran continued "to arm, train and support the Houthi militia in violation of UN Security Council resolutions".&nbsp;Baqaei also reiterated an offer to mediate between the two sides, saying Tehran "has always been ready to use its good offices to help end the hostilities".&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/ankita-bhandari-murder-case-parents-meet-cbi-seek-impartial-investigation-1792175230656">Ankita Bhandari murder case: Parents meet CBI, seek impartial investigation</a><h2>Saudi Arabia reports missile and drone interceptions</h2>The Saudi-led military coalition, which has supported Yemen's internationally recognised government for more than a decade, said on Friday that it had intercepted and destroyed three drones in southern Saudi Arabia and Riyadh, along with two cruise missiles over the Red Sea.&nbsp;The coalition also reported intercepting a ballistic missile over Yanbu, a Red Sea city that serves as the terminus of a major oil pipeline.&nbsp;The Houthis have repeatedly targeted Saudi interests, including oil facilities, Red Sea shipping and Riyadh's international airport. The Saudi-led coalition said the airport had been targeted at least 20 times this month.&nbsp;Krimly also said the Houthis had rejected an offer to meet in Oman at the start of the latest round of hostilities.<h2>UN Security Council condemns Houthi attacks</h2>The United Nations Security Council on Thursday strongly condemned the escalating Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia, as well as strikes and threats against commercial shipping in the Red Sea and the Bab al-Mandeb Strait, a key maritime passage leading towards the Suez Canal.&nbsp;The council also denounced the group's strikes on Riyadh's airport.&nbsp;Despite the accusations, Baqaei reiterated Tehran's willingness to facilitate a resolution, saying Iran had always been ready to use its good offices to help end the fighting.

Iran denied encouraging Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia and renewed its offer to mediate as Riyadh reported intercepting missiles and drones and the UN Security Council condemned the escalating strikes.

Iran on Friday (Oct 17) denied involvement in attacks by Yemen's Houthi rebels against Saudi Arabia, a day after Riyadh accused Tehran of encouraging the group's latest escalation against the kingdom. Iran also renewed its offer to help end the hostilities. "The Islamic Republic of Iran rejects any claim that Iran has played a role in Yemeni (Houthi) operations," Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei said in a statement. "Yemen's armed forces act according to their own interests and assessments, and such claims are not credible to those familiar with relations between Iran and its friends. Nevertheless, Iran does not consider an escalation of tensions to be in the interests of any party," he added. The denial came after Saudi Deputy Minister for Public Diplomacy Dr Rayed Krimly accused Tehran of having "encouraged" the escalation. Krimly also alleged that Iran continued "to arm, train and support the Houthi militia in violation of UN Security Council resolutions". Baqaei also reiterated an offer to mediate between the two sides, saying Tehran "has always been ready to use its good offices to help end the hostilities". Also Read: Ankita Bhandari murder case: Parents meet CBI, seek impartial investigation Saudi Arabia reports missile and drone interceptions The Saudi-led military coalition, which has supported Yemen's internationally recognised government for more than a decade, said on Friday that it had intercepted and destroyed three drones in southern Saudi Arabia and Riyadh, along with two cruise missiles over the Red Sea. The coalition also reported intercepting a ballistic missile over Yanbu, a Red Sea city that serves as the terminus of a major oil pipeline. The Houthis have repeatedly targeted Saudi interests, including oil facilities, Red Sea shipping and Riyadh's international airport. The Saudi-led coalition said the airport had been targeted at least 20 times this month. Krimly also said the Houthis had rejected an offer to meet in Oman at the start of the latest round of hostilities. UN Security Council condemns Houthi attacks The United Nations Security Council on Thursday strongly condemned the escalating Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia, as well as strikes and threats against commercial shipping in the Red Sea and the Bab al-Mandeb Strait, a key maritime passage leading towards the Suez Canal. The council also denounced the group's strikes on Riyadh's airport. Despite the accusations, Baqaei reiterated Tehran's willingness to facilitate a resolution, saying Iran had always been ready to use its good offices to help end the fighting.

Iran denied encouraging Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia and renewed its offer to mediate as Riyadh reported intercepting missiles and drones and the UN Security Council condemned the escalating strikes.

Iran rejects Saudi allegations of backing Houthi attacks, renews mediation offer

The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) issued an "urgent" evacuation warning on Tuesday (September 16) for a Houthi-controlled port in Yemen. The Israeli military said that a strike could happen in the "coming hours" on the port of Hodeidah in western Yemen.“The [Israel] Defense Forces will strike in the coming hours in the area marked on the map in light of the military activities carried out by the terrorist Houthi regime there,” warns Col. Avichay Adraee, the IDF’s Arabic-language spokesman.&nbsp;“For your safety, we call on all those present at Hodeidah Port and the ships moored there to evacuate the area immediately,” he said, adding that “anyone who remains in the area exposes their life to danger.”

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/%D8%B9%D8%A7%D8%AC%D9%84?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#عاجل</a> ‼️ انذار عاجل إلى كل المتواجدين في ميناء الحديدة في اليمن ⭕️سيهاجم جيش الدفاع في الساعات القريبة في المنطقة المحددة بالخريطة في ضوء الأنشطة العسكرية التي يمارسها نظام الحوثي الارهابي هناك ⭕️من أجل سلامتكم، ندعو كافة المتواجدين في ميناء الحديدة والسفن الراسية فيه إلى… <a href="https://t.co/6SM7uKPRxy">pic.twitter.com/6SM7uKPRxy</a>&mdash; افيخاي ادرعي (@AvichayAdraee) <a href="https://twitter.com/AvichayAdraee/status/1967914832360792119?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 16, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

This came just a week after 35 people were killed in an Israeli airstrike on Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen last Wednesday. Since Israel's war in Gaza was launched, Iran-backed Houthis have attacked Israeli vessels in the Red Sea as solidarity with Palestinians.&nbsp;‘Intensive operation in Gaza’&nbsp;Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/north-korea-kim-jong-un-s-new-and-bizarre-ruling-is-here-don-t-use-words-like-hamburgers-ice-cream-details-inside-1758020032934">North Korea: Kim Jong Un’s new and bizarre ruling is here. DON’T use words like 'Hamburgers', 'Ice-Cream'. Details inside</a>&nbsp;Israel launched its biggest ground offensive in Gaza on Tuesday (September 16), which was followed by international criticism. The Israeli Defence Force (IDF) said that it had “begun destroying Hamas infrastructure in Gaza City". Israel's major offensive in Gaza was also confirmed by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who said that Israel “has begun an intensive operation in Gaza City.”Meanwhile, the IDF posted on X saying, "In the past day, IDF activity in Gaza City has began according to the operational plan, and is expected to expand in line with the current situational assessment."&nbsp;"Its aim is to achieve the war’s objectives in Gaza and to enhance the achievements made during combat," it added.

The Israeli military said that a strike could happen in the coming hours on the port of Hodeidah in western Yemen. This came amid the chaos in Gaza over Israel intense offensive launch. 

The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) issued an "urgent" evacuation warning on Tuesday (September 16) for a Houthi-controlled port in Yemen. The Israeli military said that a strike could happen in the "coming hours" on the port of Hodeidah in western Yemen. “The [Israel] Defense Forces will strike in the coming hours in the area marked on the map in light of the military activities carried out by the terrorist Houthi regime there,” warns Col. Avichay Adraee, the IDF’s Arabic-language spokesman. “For your safety, we call on all those present at Hodeidah Port and the ships moored there to evacuate the area immediately,” he said, adding that “anyone who remains in the area exposes their life to danger.”

The Israeli military said that a strike could happen in the "coming hours" on the port of Hodeidah in western Yemen. This came amid the chaos in Gaza over Israel's intense offensive launch.&nbsp;

'Will strike in the coming hours': Israel’s ‘urgent’ evacuation warning for Houthi-controlled port in Yemen

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Iran rejects Saudi allegations of backing Houthi attacks, renews mediation offer

Israel’s ‘urgent’ evacuation warning for Houthi-controlled port in Yemen