Yemen’s Houthis claim strikes on Aden, Riyadh airports
Quick Look
- Yemen's Houthi rebels attacked Aden International Airport using ballistic missiles and explosive-laden drones, forcing a Cairo-bound flight to divert to Jeddah and prompting the relocation of two planes on the runway.
- The Houthis also claimed attacks on King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh and Abha International Airport, while Saudi-led coalition forces intercepted a missile north of Riyadh and launched a counteroffensive along the Red Sea coast.
AI-generated summary
Why It Matters
The Houthi rebels, aligned with Iran, have been engaged in a prolonged conflict with the Saudi-backed Yemeni government since 2015. The group controls northern Yemen, including Sanaa, while the government holds southern regions like Aden. Recent Houthi territorial gains along the Red Sea coast have prompted a Saudi-backed government counteroffensive.
Yemen's Houthi rebels attacked Aden International Airport on Wednesday morning. According to the Yemeni Ministry of Transport, they used ballistic missiles and explosive-laden drones.
Aden International Airport is Yemen's main international gateway outside Houthi control.
The missile reportedly landed near the airport runway minutes before a flight from Cairo was due to land, forcing it to divert to Jeddah. Two planes on the runway were moved away from the area for fear of further attacks, the Transport Ministry said.
Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree said in a statement that the group had also attacked King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh with several drones. There was no immediate confirmation of an attack on the Saudi airport.
Another Houthi ballistic missile was intercepted and destroyed north of Riyadh by the Saudi-led coalition, which said it had tracked the launch to a site in Houthi-controlled Sanaa.
The attacks came as fighting intensified on several fronts in Yemen. Saudi-backed government forces have launched a counteroffensive against the Houthi as the Yemeni insurgent group has made territorial gains along the Red Sea coast in recent weeks.
Bid for the Red Sea
Government forces, backed by air support from the Saudi-led coalition, launched a lightning offensive to retake territory along the Red Sea coast. The operation succeeded in driving the Houthis out of areas around the Bab el-Mandeb Strait and the city of Mocha, which they had seized last month.
In a separate statement, Saree said the Houthis had targeted Abha International Airport and an air base in Khamis Mushait with ballistic missiles and drones. It was not immediately clear whether this was related to the missile the coalition said it intercepted near Khamis Mushait. Saudi authorities did not immediately confirm an attack on Abha International Airport.
Edited by: Elizabeth Schumacher
What to Watch
AI outlook — possibilities, not facts
The Saudi-led coalition will continue to intercept Houthi missiles and drones targeting Saudi territory.
Very likely · Within weeks
Government forces will seek to consolidate gains along the Red Sea coast following their recent offensive.
Likely · Within weeks
Open Questions
- Was there confirmed damage or casualties at Aden International Airport?
- Did the Houthi attacks on King Khalid and Abha International airports result in any impact?
- What is the current status of the government counteroffensive along the Red Sea coast?
- Are there any diplomatic efforts underway to de-escalate the situation?
