The General Authority of Civil Aviation in Saudi Arabia announced, on Wednesday, that the Houthis attacked two Saudi airports, killing 3 people and wounding 36 others this week, as the conflict in Yemen increasingly extends across the border into the Kingdom.
The authority said in a statement that Abha International Airport, located near the Yemeni border, and King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh were subjected to attacks on Tuesday and Wednesday.
These attacks prompted the US mission in Saudi Arabia to issue a security alert warning American citizens of the possibility of drone and missile attacks, and warning of the possibility of escalation of the conflict.
The mission said on Wednesday: "The Houthis have engaged in hostile actions against the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, including targeting civilian airports, and there is a possibility of an escalation of the military conflict."
She added: "American citizens should be aware of the possibility of flight cancellations, airspace closures, and travel disruption."
It is noteworthy that the Houthis - an Iranian-backed armed group that controls large parts of northern Yemen, including the capital, Sanaa - have been waging a war against the internationally recognized Yemeni government and a Saudi-led coalition since 2015.
The conflict intensified in July 2026, shortly after the collapse of the ceasefire agreement between the United States and Iran, as the Houthis launched missile attacks targeting Saudi oil facilities and tankers, in a move that reflected the expansion of the scope of the war in the Middle East.
In response, Riyadh launched air strikes in support of Yemeni government forces.
According to the General Authority of Civil Aviation, the attack on Abha International Airport on Tuesday resulted in the killing of two female residents - one of whom held Moroccan nationality and the other of Algerian nationality - and the injury of 28 other people, including Saudi citizens and residents from Bangladesh and the Philippines.
The authority also reported that a separate attack targeted King Khalid International Airport in the capital, Riyadh, on Wednesday, killing a Sudanese resident and wounding 8 people, including 5 Saudi citizens, two Egyptian residents, and a Pakistani resident.
The armed forces under Houthi control claimed responsibility for both attacks; The group stated that it targeted King Khalid International Airport with a ballistic missile, and claimed that the strike caused the disruption of air traffic in Riyadh.
On the other hand, the spokesman for the “Coalition to Support Legitimacy in Yemen” headed by Saudi Arabia, Turki Al-Maliki, announced that the coalition forces destroyed the ballistic missile launch pad that was used in the attack on Riyadh.
In a post on the “X” platform (formerly Twitter), Al-Maliki explained that the platform was destroyed in Sanaa while preparations were being made to launch “another imminent attack against Saudi Arabia.”
The Houthis announced one day ago that they had carried out a ballistic missile attack targeting Abha International Airport, also claiming that the attack led to "disrupting air traffic at the airport."
The group renewed its warning to international airlines against operating flights through Saudi airspace, considering it “the scene of our military operations,” with the exception of the airspace surrounding the holy cities of Mecca and Medina.
The Saudi authorities did not immediately comment on the Houthi allegations.
These attacks come at a time when Yemeni government forces - backed by Saudi Arabia - continue to move forward with Operation “Yemen Dawn,” a large-scale offensive aimed at rolling back the recent gains made by the Iran-backed Houthis.
This escalation also prompted Saudi Arabia to strengthen defense cooperation with its regional allies.
Earlier this week, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Pakistan agreed to move forward with collective defense measures under the Mecca Joint Defense Agreement, often referred to as the Mecca Pact.
In a joint statement issued after an emergency meeting in Riyadh, the three countries announced that they would immediately begin implementing collective defense commitments and ensure the rapid deployment of forces and military capabilities within the Kingdom.
The Pakistani army confirmed to CNN on Wednesday that Pakistani forces are already present in Saudi Arabia as part of this alliance.
Pakistani army spokesman General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry stated that Pakistan’s commitment to Saudi Arabia’s security is “absolute,” describing the alliance as a “mechanism for collective defense and deterrence.” He added that “the agreement includes a clause similar to the NATO charter, which stipulates that any attack on one member is considered an attack on all.”
The United States also intensified its support for the Saudi campaign. It was reported to CNN last month - citing multiple sources familiar with these efforts - that more than 100 American military advisors are currently in Saudi Arabia to provide intelligence support and help identify targets for the military operations launched by the Kingdom against the Iran-backed Houthis.
This aid comes in light of the escalation of fighting in the Arabian Peninsula, raising fears of the expansion of the scope of the conflict, which could threaten another major sea lane in the Middle East besides the Red Sea.
In recent days, Yemeni government forces announced progress near the strategic Bab al-Mandab Strait on the Yemeni coast overlooking the Red Sea, while the Houthis responded by launching missile and drone attacks targeting sites inside the Kingdom.
The strikes that targeted airports in southern Saudi Arabia and the capital highlight the increasing impact of the conflict on Saudi territory, in light of Riyadh intensifying its support for the military campaign launched by the Yemeni government.
With civilian infrastructure under renewed attacks, there are signs that the scope of hostilities is expanding beyond the battlefield in Yemen, posing an increasing challenge to the Kingdom's security and transportation networks.
The activation of the “Mecca Pact” and confirmation of the actual deployment of Pakistani forces inside the Kingdom indicate that Saudi Arabia and its allies are preparing for the possibility of a broader regional security confrontation.
