New missile attacks hit Saudi Arabia and Aden
Yemeni and Saudi officials report fresh strikes on airports and military sites as the conflict expands.
By Jason Kovalenko ·
The latest round of hostilities in Yemen has expanded to include new missile launches aimed at Saudi Arabia and the port city of Aden. These recent strikes mark a significant rise in intensity for the ongoing regional conflict. The attacks target both the Houthi group's rival in the Gulf and the government they oppose within Yemen.
On Saturday, the Yemeni Transport Ministry issued a statement regarding damage to Aden International Airport. The ministry reported that two ballistic missiles struck the facility, which represents the fourth such incident in the current month. Officials expressed concern that these repeated attacks put civil aviation at risk. They noted that the disruptions have serious humanitarian and economic effects for residents who rely on the airport for travel.
Authorities in Yemen also identified other sites that were hit during the assault. Reports indicated that the coastguard headquarters and an additional building sustained damage. The Houthi group took responsibility for targeting the al-Nasr camp and a naval military base in Aden. In a separate event on Friday, the Yemeni army reported that a missile failed to function correctly and crashed into a private home in Sanaa. This city remains under Houthi control. Three people died in the incident. Military officials stated that this event is part of a pattern of missile malfunctions seen in recent weeks from the Iran-backed group.
Houthi-run media outlets reported on Saturday that airstrikes by the Saudi coalition killed several civilians in Sanaa and the port city of Hodeidah. Independent verification of these claims has not yet been completed. As of Saturday, Riyadh had not released a formal response to the alleged raids.
Saudi Arabia's civil defence agency confirmed on social media that two ballistic missiles were launched toward Mecca and Medina. The agency warned the public about falling debris after the projectiles were intercepted. Images provided by the Saudi Press Agency showed a large, charred object resembling a missile that had landed inside the country.
Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi, the Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council, reacted to the strikes in a statement on Saturday. He described the attacks as heinous and said they showed a clear lack of respect for the safety of civilians. However, the Houthi group challenged this account. They dismissed the idea that they targeted the two holiest cities in Islam as a major falsehood. Instead, the group claimed their intended targets were three airports in Saudi Arabia, along with oil facilities and an airbase.
This phase of the conflict has been defined by long-range strikes since a fragile ceasefire agreed in 2022 broke down in July. The Houthi group has consistently targeted Saudi energy systems and airports. Fighting continues along the front lines as Houthi forces clash with troops from the internationally recognized government. Colonel Majed Abdullah al-Nazili, a spokesman for the Yemeni army, said on Saturday that government forces carried out over 700 targeting operations in the last 24 hours. He claimed these actions eliminated 300 Houthi fighters and damaged military vehicles, though these numbers have not been independently verified.
The military spokesman added that the operations concentrated on field command centers, Houthi gatherings, weapons storage areas, and supply routes. These actions took place in Taiz, a region where heavy fighting has continued for several days.
