Four missile hits on Aden airport in October spark new regional flare-up
Houthi forces have launched a coordinated wave of attacks against Saudi Arabia and Yemen's capital, Aden, signaling a sharp rise in violence since the 2022 ceasefire fell apart.
By Petra Murphy ·
Two ballistic missiles struck Aden International Airport on Saturday, marking the fourth time in October that the facility has come under fire. This latest incident highlights a significant surge in violence as Houthi forces intensify their campaign against both Saudi Arabia and the internationally recognized Yemeni government.
The Yemeni Transport Ministry expressed strong condemnation via a Facebook post. Officials noted that the repeated strikes pose serious risks to civil aviation safety. They also warned that the attacks carry heavy humanitarian and economic burdens for citizens who rely on the airport for their travel needs. Beyond the runways, local authorities reported that a coastguard headquarters and an additional building were hit during the assault.
The Houthi group took credit for targeting the al-Nasr camp and a naval military base in Aden. In a separate incident on Friday, Yemen's army reported that a Houthi missile malfunctioned and crashed into a family home in Sanaa. This city is under Houthi control, and the crash killed three people. The military described this as one of several such malfunctions seen from the Iran-backed group in recent weeks.
Saudi Arabia confirmed on Saturday that two ballistic missiles were launched toward Mecca and Medina. The civil defence agency warned residents about falling shrapnel after intercepting the projectiles. Images released by the Saudi Press Agency showed a large, blackened object that appeared to be a missile fragment landing within the kingdom. The Gulf Cooperation Council Secretary-General, Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi, called the attacks heinous and a blatant disregard for civilian safety.
The Houthi group challenged the official account of their targets. They dismissed the idea that they aimed at Mecca and Medina as a huge lie. Instead, they stated that their intended goals were three Saudi airports, oil infrastructure, and an airbase. Al-Masirah TV, which is run by the Houthis, also reported that Saudi coalition airstrikes killed several civilians in Sanaa and Hodeidah, though these claims have not been independently verified.
Since the fragile 2022 ceasefire collapsed in July, the Houthis have used long-range strikes to pressure Saudi energy sites and airports. This strategy has defined the current phase of the conflict. Fighting remains intense along Yemen's front lines as well. Colonel Majed Abdullah al-Nazili, a Yemeni army spokesman, said that government forces conducted over 700 targeting operations in the last 24 hours. He claimed these actions neutralized 300 Houthi fighters and disabled military vehicles, though these figures await independent verification.
These military operations focused on field command centers, weapons depots, and supply lines in the Taiz region. Clashes have persisted there for several days as both sides battle for control of key areas. The ongoing exchanges underscore the volatile nature of the conflict, with both the air and land fronts seeing significant activity this week.
