Saudi Arabia has warned that Yemen’s Houthis will face consequences for their repeated attacks on the kingdom, after a cabinet meeting chaired by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on Tuesday. Saudi state media reported that the government accused the group of carrying out crimes against Saudi airports, holy cities and economic facilities, following several deadly strikes on the country.

The Saudi Press Agency quoted the cabinet as saying the kingdom will not tolerate threats to its security or to maritime navigation in the Red Sea and the Bab al Mandeb Strait. The cabinet also praised Yemeni government forces for their efforts to neutralise the threats posed by the Houthis, who are backed by Iran.

The statement comes as the Houthis tighten their grip on the strategic waterway. The group seized Yemen’s Red Sea coastline and the Bab al Mandeb area last month, a development that matters even more because Saudi Arabia has leaned on Red Sea routes to export oil while shipping through the Strait of Hormuz remains disrupted. Houthi attacks on King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh in recent days have killed at least 18 people and wounded hundreds. On Tuesday, the group also threatened Riyadh and Saudi Aramco facilities after the Saudi led coalition ordered civilians out of an oil site in Sanaa.

Separately, the Houthi run health ministry said two people were killed when an oil company in Hodeidah province was attacked, and it blamed Saudi Arabia. There has been no immediate Saudi confirmation.

Diplomatic backing for Riyadh has been growing. Lebanon’s President Joseph Aoun condemned the attacks on Saudi Arabia in a call with the crown prince, and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said in his own call that Turkey would stand by the kingdom.

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