Houthi Attacks Strike Aden, Saudi Arabia

Houthi forces launched a fresh wave of attacks on Saturday, striking Aden International Airport in Yemen and targets within Saudi Arabia. This escalation comes as fighting continues in the Yemeni conflict.

Yemen's Transport Ministry condemned the targeting of the airport, stating that two ballistic missiles were fired at the facility. This marked the fourth such incident this month, with officials warning of significant humanitarian and economic consequences for citizens who rely on the airport for travel. Beyond the airport, the coastguard headquarters and another building were also struck in the assault. The Houthi group claimed responsibility for hitting the al-Nasr camp and the naval military base in Aden.

Saudi Arabia's civil defence agency confirmed that two ballistic missiles were launched toward the holy cities of Mecca and Medina, warning of falling shrapnel after the projectiles were intercepted. The Houthis disputed this, calling the claim a 'huge lie' and stating their intended targets were three Saudi airports, oil infrastructure, and an airbase.

In a related incident on Friday, a Houthi missile malfunctioned and crashed into a family home in Sanaa, a city under Houthi control, killing three people. The Yemeni military noted this was one of several missile malfunctions observed from the Iran-backed group in recent weeks. Meanwhile, Houthi-run Al-Masirah TV reported that Saudi coalition airstrikes killed several civilians in Sanaa and the port city of Hodeidah, a claim that could not be independently verified. Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi, Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council, described the Houthi attacks as heinous, stating they embodied a 'blatant disregard for the lives and security of civilians'.

Intense fighting continues along Yemen's front lines as Houthi forces battle government troops for control of key areas. Colonel Majed Abdullah al-Nazili, a Yemeni army spokesman, said on Saturday that government forces conducted more than 700 targeting operations over the previous 24 hours. He claimed these operations neutralized 300 Houthi fighters and disabled military vehicles, though these figures could not be independently verified.

The military spokesman added that these operations focused on field command centers, Houthi gatherings, weapons depots, and supply lines in Taiz, a region where intense clashes have persisted for days. The conflict has intensified since a fragile 2022 ceasefire collapsed in July, with the Houthis persistently using long-range strikes to target Saudi energy infrastructure and airports across the kingdom.