India on Tuesday strongly condemned Houthi strikes targeting Saudi Arabia, expressing concern over escalating conflict in the Red Sea and warning that such attacks hamper regional stability and international maritime routes, including the Bab-el-Mandeb.Addressing a media briefing, the ministry of external affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said the issue was discussed during a meeting between foreign Minister S Jaishankar and his Saudi counterpart Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud on the sidelines of the Brics Summit.“Our External Affairs Minister did have a meeting with the Saudi Foreign Minister on the sidelines of the Brics Summit. He discussed several issues, regional developments as also international developments, and the issue of the Houthis was also discussed,” the MEA spokesperson said at a media briefing.Following the meeting, Jaishankar said the two sides discussed regional and global developments and exchanged views on ways to further strengthen bilateral cooperation between India and Saudi Arabia.India also reiterated its opposition to attacks on sovereign territory, critical infrastructure and international sea lanes, describing the recent strikes on Saudi Arabia as unacceptable.“Such attacks undermine regional stability and threaten freedom of navigation through the Bab-el-Mandeb. These are obviously unacceptable to us”, Jaiswal said.“We hope that there is early restoration of peace and stability in the region”, he added.India called for an early return to peace and stability in the region, while the foreign ministry assured the ongoing conflict had not disrupted the country’s energy supplies.
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The developments come amid escalation in the wider West Asian conflict, with fighting intensifying in Yemen as Houthi forces move towards areas held by the Saudi-backed government, including the strategic, oil- and gas-rich province of Marib and the city of Taiz.Yemeni media reported over the weekend that the Houthis had deployed large numbers of fighters and military equipment to areas of Marib province under their control, fuelling concerns that the group could be preparing for another offense.