Yemen’s Houthis attack Aden airport; Saudi forces down missile near Riyadh | US-Israel war on Iran News
Yemen Accuses Houthis of Missile Attacks Near Aden Airport
Aden, Yemen — Yemen’s internationally recognized government has accused the Houthi movement of launching ballistic missiles and drones at Aden Airport, just minutes before a flight from Cairo was scheduled to land. The Yemeni Ministry of Transport reported Wednesday that two missiles and several drones targeted both the runway and passenger terminal of the airport.
According to the ministry, one of the missiles landed near the runway shortly before the arrival of the flight from Egypt. In response, authorities diverted the flight to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, to ensure passenger safety. The airport terminal was evacuated, and two aircraft were removed from the tarmac during the attacks.
“This incident could have easily turned a civilian flight into a horrific humanitarian disaster, claiming the lives of dozens of innocent people,” the ministry stated.
Aden Airport serves as the primary international gateway for Yemen’s government-controlled areas following the Houthi takeover of the capital, Sanaa, in 2014. The Houthis claimed that their attack aimed at Saudi military supplies arriving at a nearby military camp.
In a separate incident, the Saudi-led military coalition reported intercepting a Houthi missile north of Riyadh. Major-General Turki al-Maliki, the coalition’s spokesperson, stated they were tracking the missile’s launch platform and vowed to destroy it.
The Houthis also announced they had targeted the international airports in Riyadh and Abha in earlier statements.
The escalation in fighting coincides with rising regional tensions stemming from the ongoing U.S.-Israel conflict involving Iran. Yemen’s Saudi-backed government forces have launched a counteroffensive to regain control of the Red Sea port city of Mocha and the surrounding areas near the Bab al-Mandeb strait.
Fighting continues to intensify, particularly in Yemen’s southwestern province of Taiz. Reports indicate fierce battles are underway as forces attempt to secure strategic positions in the region. According to Al Jazeera correspondent Yousef Mawry, controlling the highlands and mountains east of Bab al-Mandeb is critical for the Yemeni government to maintain military dominance along the Red Sea coast.
In a related development, Pakistan and Turkiye agreed to activate mutual defense measures and deploy forces to Saudi Arabia in response to the Houthi threat.
