‘Lives may be sacrificed’: Saudi Grand Mufti urges troops to fight against Houthis

Saudi Arabia's Grand Mufti Sheikh Saleh bin Fawzan Al-Fawzan

Saudi Arabia's Grand Mufti Sheikh Saleh bin Fawzan Al-Fawzan has urged troops deployed along the kingdom's borders to be prepared to sacrifice their lives in the fight against Yemen's Houthi movement, as Riyadh faces a sharp escalation in attacks and a growing threat to its territory and strategic interests.According to Reuters, Grand Mufti, in a message issued through Saudi state media, called on soldiers to continue fighting until the Houthis are ousted from power and described restoring the authority of Yemen's Saudi-backed government as one of the kingdom's most pressing obligations. He also urged troops to obey the country's rulers and military commanders."Protecting this great nation... and ​punishing anyone who seeks to lay a hand on even an inch of its territory are among the greatest duties and most virtuous acts of devotion, for which lives and souls may be sacrificed in seeking God's pleasure," he said in the statement, issued late Thursday.The Grand Mufti also called for the complete defeat of the Houthis and those supporting them, while asking God to protect Saudi Arabia and Yemen from harm."We ask God Almighty to grant you all his support, and to protect our countries and beloved Yemen from all harm. We also ask him to bring about the complete defeat of the Houthi group and those who assist and support them," the statement said.Saudi Arabia's Grand Mufti is the kingdom's highest-ranking official religious authority and heads the Council of Senior Scholars, its top religious advisory body.

Saudi-Houthi escalationThe Saudi-Houthi conflict has sharply escalated in recent weeks, with the Houthis stepping up missile and drone attacks on Saudi territory while Saudi Arabia conducts airstrikes against Houthi positions in Yemen.On Thursday, Saudi Arabia said its air defences intercepted six ballistic missiles launched towards the Taif and Yanbu areas, while the Houthis claimed they had attacked a "sensitive target" in Riyadh and Saudi Aramco facilities in Yanbu.The escalation follows a major Houthi advance along Yemen's western coast, including control of territory reaching the Bab el-Mandeb, a strategically important Red Sea waterway. The group has also been targeting Saudi cities and energy infrastructure since declaring a naval blockade against Riyadh in July.