Houthis exempt Mecca, Medina airports from attacks as Riyadh vows revenge

The Houthis on Sunday renewed their warning against the use of Saudi airspace by airlines, companies and travellers with the exception of Mecca and Medina airports.

The warning has been issued to all shipping companies, airlines, experts, employees, workers, and travellers, Houthi spokesperson Yahya Saree said on X.

"They are exposed to targeting and a theater for operations by our forces", Yahya said.

"With the exception of the airports of Mecca Al-Mukarramah and Medina Al-Munawwarah", he added.

The cities of Mecca and Medina are among the holiest sites in Islam and owe immense religious significance to both Sunni and Shia sects.

Houthi remarks come a day after they targeted Saudi's Riyadh's international airport, reportedly killing 12 people and wounding over 300 others.

Yahya described the targeting of Saudi airports as a tit-for-tat action.

According to Saudi Gazette, citing the General Authority of Civil Aviation, the fatalities included four Saudi citizens, two Bangladeshi nationals and one national each from the United States, Egypt, Jordan, Syria, Palestine and Sudan.

"The Armed Forces affirm that they are steadfast in establishing the announced equations: airport for airport, siege for siege, and escalation for escalation, until achieving their objectives," Yahya said.

The Saudi-led coalition fighting in Yemen has vowed a firm response to the attack, describing it as a war crime.

According to Saudi Gazette, coalition spokesperson major general Turki Al-Maliki said the October 10 strike targeted a passenger terminal, resulting in civilian casualties.

Al-Maliki blamed Yemen’s Houthi militia for the attack, calling it a violation of international humanitarian law and customary rules of war.

He said the coalition’s Joint Forces Command would respond firmly in accordance with international humanitarian law.

Riyadh has intensified its military involvement in Yemen in recent weeks, carrying out strikes against the Houthis and supporting a counter-offensive by the Yemeni government after the group seized strategic territory along the Red Sea coast last month.

When asked about the Saturday attack, US President Donald Trump said America could join Saudi Arabia’s military strikes against the Houthis, adding that his administration was reviewing the latest developments and could decide on the matter soon.

“We may. We're going to look at it soon. We just found out about the recent attack, so we'll make a decision. We move very quickly”, Trump said.

“We're going to take a look”, he added.