Iran: Saudi-Led Airstrike Hit Our Embassy in Yemen

Reporter sees no visible damage as tensions rise after Shiite cleric's execution
By Newser Editors and Wire Services
Posted Jan 7, 2016 6:00 AM CST
Iran: Saudi-Led Airstrike Hit Our Embassy in Yemen
Shiite rebels known as Houthis hold posters of late Shiite cleric Nimr al-Nimr, who was executed in Saudi Arabia, during an anti-Saudi protest outside the Saudi embassy in Sanaa, Yemen, on Thursday.   (AP Photo/Hani Mohammed)

More Saudi-Iran trouble Thursday morning: Tehran accused the Saudi-led coalition battling Shiite rebels in Yemen of bombing its embassy there in an overnight airstrike. However, an AP reporter who reached the site just after the announcement by Iran's state-run news agency said the embassy was still standing without any visible damage. No explanation yet for the discrepancy, but the accusation comes amid a dangerous rise in tensions between Iran and Saudi Arabia in recent days following the kingdom's execution of a Shiite cleric and attacks on Saudi diplomatic posts in Iran. Analysts had feared the dispute could boil over into the proxy wars between the two Mideast rivals in Yemen and in Syria.

Sanaa is held by Shiite rebels known as Houthis, who are targeted by an ongoing Saudi-led military campaign on behalf of Yemen's internationally recognized government. Iran has offered support to the Houthis but denies actively supporting their war effort. Saudi Arabia severed ties with Iran on Sunday after crowds of protesters attacked two of its diplomatic posts in Iran, which followed Saudi Arabia executing opposition Shiite cleric Nimr al-Nimr over the weekend. Meanwhile, Iran on Thursday banned the import of goods from Saudi Arabia over the tensions, according to a report by Iranian state television. (More Iran stories.)

Get the news faster.
Tap to install our app.
X
Install the Newser News app
in two easy steps:
1. Tap in your navigation bar.
2. Tap to Add to Home Screen.

X