Houthi missile and drone attacks on Saudi airports kill three

Yemen's Houthi rebels launched ballistic missile and drone strikes against King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh and Abha International Airport, killing three people and wounding 36 others.

Saudi Arabia's General Authority of Civil Aviation reported that the attacks took place on October 6 and 7. At Abha International Airport, located near the Yemen border, two people were killed and 28 wounded. BBC News identified these victims as Moroccan and Algerian women, while France 24 reported they were Egyptian and Algerian nationals. In a separate strike on King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, a Sudanese resident was killed and eight others were injured.

Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Saree claimed responsibility for the strikes, stating that ballistic missiles and drones accurately hit their targets and disrupted operations. Saree described the attacks as a response to "Saudi aggression," alleging that the kingdom had conducted 60 airstrikes and missile attacks against Yemen within a 24-hour period. The rebels also issued a final warning to international airlines to stop flying through Saudi airspace.

In response, the Saudi-led military coalition announced it had destroyed the ballistic missile launch platform used in the Riyadh attack. Coalition spokesperson Turki al-Maliki stated that forces struck 82 military targets across Saada, Marib, Al Jawf, and Al Hudaydah. These targets reportedly included command centers, communication systems, and weapons depots. The coalition warned that the targeting of civilian infrastructure "will not go unpunished."

The Houthi group also claimed a Wednesday attack on Aden's International Airport in Yemen, a major gateway for areas outside rebel control. This escalation follows recent gains by Houthi forces along the Red Sea coast, though pro-government forces now say they have secured the strategic Bab al-Mandab Strait and launched a counteroffensive.

Background

The civil war in Yemen reignited in July, leading to a surge in cross-border violence as Houthi rebels and Saudi-backed government forces fight for territory. According to the United Nations, the renewed conflict has displaced more than 200,000 people within Yemen.