Houthi missiles hit Saudi holy cities and Aden airport again
The Yemeni government reported 700 military operations in the last day as attacks escalated against Aden and Saudi Arabia.
By John Ferrari ·
Residents in Aden and parts of Saudi Arabia faced another round of missile strikes on Saturday. Two ballistic missiles targeted Aden International Airport, making it the fourth time the facility has been hit this month. The Yemeni Transport Ministry said the attacks threaten civilian travel and cause economic strain for people who rely on the airport to move around the country.
In Saudi Arabia, civil defense officials confirmed that two ballistic missiles were fired toward Mecca and Medina. Shrapnel fell after the projectiles were intercepted. Images from the Saudi Press Agency showed a large, blackened object that had landed inside the kingdom. The Houthi group disputed the official account, calling the claim that they aimed at the holy cities a lie. They said their intended targets were three airports, oil facilities, and an airbase.
The fighting in Yemen has intensified since a ceasefire agreed in 2022 fell apart in July. The Houthis have used long-range strikes to pressure the government in Aden and its rival in Riyadh. Colonel Majed Abdullah al-Nazili, a Yemeni army spokesman, said government troops carried out more than 700 targeting operations in the past 24 hours. He stated that these actions killed 300 Houthi fighters and destroyed military vehicles in the Taiz region.
The Houthis claimed responsibility for hitting the al-Nasr camp and a naval base in Aden. Yemeni authorities also reported that the coastguard headquarters and another building took damage. On Friday, a Houthi missile malfunctioned and crashed into a family home in Sanaa, killing three people. The military said this was one of several recent malfunctions from the Iran-backed group.
Houthi-run Al-Masirah TV reported that Saudi coalition airstrikes killed several civilians in Sanaa and Hodeidah on Saturday. Riyadh had not issued a formal comment on the raids by the time of reporting. Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi, Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council, called the attacks heinous. He said the strikes showed a clear disregard for the safety of civilians in both countries.
Fighting continues along front lines where Houthi forces battle government troops for control of key areas. The military spokesman said recent operations focused on command centers, weapons depots, and supply lines. The group has persisted with these long-range strikes as a main feature of the current conflict phase.
