Houthis Claim Missile Attacks: Riyadh, Abha Airports Targeted

• Yemen's Houthi forces claimed multiple missile and drone attacks on Saudi airports, including Riyadh, Abha, and King Khalid Air Base, as well as a military convoy near Aden airport this week.
• The Saudi-led coalition stated it intercepted a ballistic missile targeting Riyadh, while a flight to Aden was diverted after a missile landed near the runway.
• The attacks occur amidst an escalation of Yemen's civil war, which reignited in July after a four-year ceasefire, with Houthis making recent territorial gains and the Yemeni government launching a counteroffensive.
• Recent clashes in western Yemen resulted in at least 62 combatant deaths, and a Houthi missile strike on Taiz wounded five civilians.
• Over 200,000 people have been displaced by the renewed fighting, contributing to a severe humanitarian crisis, and independent verification of claims remains challenging due to limited access.

The rapidly evolving situation on the ground and restricted access for journalists make independent verification of claims from the warring parties exceptionally difficult.

Yemen's Houthi movement has asserted responsibility for a series of missile and drone attacks targeting strategic locations in Saudi Arabia and Yemen this week. On Wednesday, Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree announced that their forces had launched a ballistic missile at King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia's capital. Saree claimed the strike was precise and caused disruptions to air traffic. This marks the second time within the current week that the Houthis have stated they attacked the main airport in Riyadh.

Further claims by the Houthis included strikes on Saudi Arabia’s Abha airport and the King Khalid Air Base in Khamis Mushait, with Saree stating these targets were also accurately hit. In a separate incident, the Houthis reported targeting a military supply convoy near the airport in Aden, Yemen, which serves as the interim capital for the internationally recognized government. Yemen's Saba news agency corroborated reports of missiles and drones targeting Aden airport, noting that transport authorities indicated one missile landed near the runway just minutes before a scheduled flight from Cairo was due to arrive, forcing its diversion to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. The Saudi-led military coalition, which supports the Yemeni government, stated that the ballistic missile aimed at Riyadh was intercepted, though Saudi authorities have not publicly confirmed any strikes or acknowledged frequent temporary airspace closures around the Riyadh airport, as observed by tracking website Flightradar24.

These alleged attacks coincide with a significant escalation in Yemen's civil war, which reignited in July following a four-year ceasefire. The conflict has seen the Houthis, who control the majority of northwestern Yemen, make substantial territorial gains. Last month, they seized extensive coastal areas along the Red Sea from pro-government forces, marking some of the deadliest fighting in years. The internationally recognized Yemeni government responded by declaring a counteroffensive this week, asserting that it has dislodged Houthi fighters from key strategic areas, including along the Red Sea and in the port city of Mocha.

However, the Iran-backed Houthis maintain they are holding their ground, and military sources from both sides, contacted by AFP, have not reported any significant shifts in control on the ground. The Saudi-led international coalition, engaged in conflict with the Houthis since 2015, confirmed on Monday that it is providing air support for the Yemeni government's counteroffensive. The renewed hostilities have led to further casualties, with new clashes in western Yemen on Wednesday resulting in the deaths of at least 62 combatants, including 37 Houthis. Additionally, the government's Saba news agency reported that a Houthi missile strike on the government-held city of Taiz wounded five civilians, with a local resident describing the impact in a crowded civilian area.

The intensifying conflict continues to exacerbate an already dire humanitarian crisis in Yemen, where the majority of the population relies on aid for survival. The United Nations reported on Wednesday that the recent fighting alone has displaced over 200,000 people within the country. The war's impact is particularly severe in Houthi-held territories, which house most of Yemen's population and have been under the group's control for more than a decade, with the Yemeni government aiming to retake all these areas.

The rapidly evolving situation on the ground and restricted access for journalists make independent verification of claims from the warring parties exceptionally difficult. Conflicting reports from the Houthis and the Saudi-led coalition, regarding both the success of missile strikes and territorial control, remain largely unconfirmed by external sources. This lack of independent oversight underscores the challenges in accurately assessing the true impact and progression of the conflict.

Source: Original reporting via AFP