Houthis shell Saudi Arabia border town, prompting retaliation threat

Yemen's Houthi militiamen have shelled a Saudi Arabian border town, the most serious attack by the group on the Kingdom since the beginning of hostilities between the two.

According to Saudi's Al-Ekhbariya TV network, schools were reportedly closed in the southern Najran region following the attack, but the Al-Watan newspaper reported that there were no casualties.

However, according to local media, one Saudi soldier was killed in a concurrent attack on a Saudi military post near the town.

Photos posted on Twitter appeared to show Houthi fighters in Saudi Arabia:

All flights have reportedly been suspended in the Najran region in the wake of the attack.

Saudi military spokesperson General Ahmed Asiri told reporters in a press conference that the attack originated from mountain locations at the border – and promised that the attack would not go unanswered.

He also noted that 122mm Katyusha rockets had struck the town.

Since March, Saudi Arabia has led a coalition of Arab states bombing Houthi militants in the impoverished Arab country.

The Kingdom has been increasing its calls for military support from the international community.

On Monday, Senegal said it would be sending 2,100 men to aid Saudi Arabia in its fight against the Houthis.

"The international coalition is aiming to protect and secure the holy sites of Islam, Medina and Mecca," Senegalese Foreign Minister Mankeur Ndiaye told parliament.

"The president...has decided to respond favourably to this request by deploying a contingent of 2,100 men in the holy land of Saudi Arabia," he said.