BEIJING — China on Monday called for “restraint” amid attacks on Saudi Arabia by the Houthi rebels in Yemen, expressing concern over civilian casualties and damage to energy infrastructure, Anadolu news agency reported.“China is deeply concerned about the casualties of innocent civilians and the damage to energy facilities and other civilian infrastructure caused by recent escalation in Yemen and the Red Sea,” Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun told reporters in Beijing.He said attacks against civilian infrastructure that bears on people’s livelihoods “are unacceptable.”“Increasing turmoil in the region serves no one’s interest. The sovereignty and security of all countries should be respected, and the only way out is to resolve disputes through political and diplomatic means,” Guo said.Fighting in Yemen intensified on Sunday as government forces claimed fresh gains against the Houthis in Taiz, state news agency Saba reported.Yemeni government forces recaptured positions overlooking the Jardad area in western Taiz and advanced toward Gail Bani Omar, the agency reported, citing a military source.The source said government forces seized military equipment and inflicted heavy losses on the Houthis.Government aircraft also carried out strikes on Houthi positions, gatherings and vehicles in several parts of Taiz, including Dhubab, Al-Wazaiya and Haifan, according to the source.An airstrike on a Houthi gathering in the Afira area of Jabal Habshi district destroyed several military vehicles and detonated a stockpile of medium-weapons ammunition, killing at least 10 Houthi fighters, the source said.The latest fighting comes amid a wider escalation across Yemen, with government forces also conducting operations in Marib, Jouf, Al-Bayda and Al-Dhalea, according to the Yemeni presidency.The Iranian-backed Houthis have lately intensified missile and drone attacks against Saudi cities and energy infrastructure.At least 73 civilians were injured in recent attacks, according to the Saudi-led international coalition in Yemen.The recent fighting has raised fears of a return to full-scale conflict, disrupting a relative lull observed since April 2022.Yemen has suffered nearly 12 years of war since the Iranian-backed Houthis seized the capital Sanaa in 2014.The Houthis have also targeted commercial shipping in the Red Sea, while Saudi Arabia, which backs Yemen’s internationally recognized government, announced a mission in July to form an international maritime alliance.“China calls on relevant parties to exercise restraint, ease tension through communication and dialogue, and work toward de-escalation as soon as possible,” said the Chinese spokesman.BEIJING — China on Monday called for “restraint” amid attacks on Saudi Arabia by the Houthi rebels in Yemen, expressing concern over civilian casualties and damage to energy infrastructure, Anadolu news agency reported.“China is deeply concerned about the casualties of innocent civilians and the damage to energy facilities and other civilian infrastructure caused by recent escalation in Yemen and the Red Sea,” Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun told reporters in Beijing.He said attacks against civilian infrastructure that bears on people’s livelihoods “are unacceptable.”“Increasing turmoil in the region serves no one’s interest. The sovereignty and security of all countries should be respected, and the only way out is to resolve disputes through political and diplomatic means,” Guo said.Fighting in Yemen intensified on Sunday as government forces claimed fresh gains against the Houthis in Taiz, state news agency Saba reported.Yemeni government forces recaptured positions overlooking the Jardad area in western Taiz and advanced toward Gail Bani Omar, the agency reported, citing a military source.The source said government forces seized military equipment and inflicted heavy losses on the Houthis.Government aircraft also carried out strikes on Houthi positions, gatherings and vehicles in several parts of Taiz, including Dhubab, Al-Wazaiya and Haifan, according to the source.An airstrike on a Houthi gathering in the Afira area of Jabal Habshi district destroyed several military vehicles and detonated a stockpile of medium-weapons ammunition, killing at least 10 Houthi fighters, the source said.The latest fighting comes amid a wider escalation across Yemen, with government forces also conducting operations in Marib, Jouf, Al-Bayda and Al-Dhalea, according to the Yemeni presidency.The Iranian-backed Houthis have lately intensified missile and drone attacks against Saudi cities and energy infrastructure.At least 73 civilians were injured in recent attacks, according to the Saudi-led international coalition in Yemen.The recent fighting has raised fears of a return to full-scale conflict, disrupting a relative lull observed since April 2022.Yemen has suffered nearly 12 years of war since the Iranian-backed Houthis seized the capital Sanaa in 2014.The Houthis have also targeted commercial shipping in the Red Sea, while Saudi Arabia, which backs Yemen’s internationally recognized government, announced a mission in July to form an international maritime alliance.“China calls on relevant parties to exercise restraint, ease tension through communication and dialogue, and work toward de-escalation as soon as possible,” said the Chinese spokesman.
