Yemen Frontline: Houthi Barrage Hits Saudi Sites and Aden
A fresh wave of ballistic missile attacks has intensified regional tensions, targeting major infrastructure in Saudi Arabia and the Yemeni port of Aden.
By Thomas Obasi ·
The fragile peace in the region shattered again this weekend as Houthi forces launched a coordinated assault on multiple targets. The strikes marked a sharp escalation in hostilities, directly challenging both the Yemeni government and its regional rival, Saudi Arabia.
Yemeni authorities confirmed that two ballistic missiles struck Aden International Airport on Saturday. This incident marks the fourth attack on the facility within the current month. The Transport Ministry issued a statement on social media, highlighting the severe risk to civil aviation. Officials emphasized that the attacks carry heavy humanitarian and economic costs for citizens who rely on the airport for travel. In the same wave of violence, the coastguard headquarters and another structure in Aden were also hit. The Houthi group claimed responsibility for damaging the al-Nasr camp and the naval military base.
On the Saudi side, the civil defence agency confirmed that two ballistic missiles were launched toward Mecca and Medina. The agency warned residents of falling shrapnel after the projectiles were intercepted. Images released by the Saudi Press Agency showed a large, blackened missile fragment that landed within the kingdom's borders. Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi, the Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council, called the attacks heinous. He stated that the strikes showed a blatant disregard for civilian safety.
However, the Houthi group pushed back against the official account of their targets. They labeled the claim that they aimed at Islam's holiest cities as a huge lie. Instead, the group stated that their intended goals were three Saudi airports, oil infrastructure, and an airbase. In a separate development on Friday, Yemen's army reported that a Houthi missile malfunctioned and crashed into a family home in Sanaa. The city, which is under Houthi control, saw three people killed in the incident. The military noted that such malfunctions have become increasingly common in recent weeks.
The conflict has intensified since a fragile ceasefire agreed upon in 2022 collapsed in July. Houthi forces have since persisted in using long-range strikes to pressure Saudi energy infrastructure and airports. This sustained campaign has become a defining feature of the current phase of the war. Meanwhile, fighting along the front lines in Yemen remains intense. Colonel Majed Abdullah al-Nazili, a Yemeni army spokesman, said that government forces conducted more than 700 targeting operations over the previous 24 hours. He claimed these actions neutralized 300 Houthi fighters and disabled military vehicles. These figures have not been independently verified. The operations focused on field command centres, weapons depots, and supply lines in Taiz, where clashes have persisted for days.
Houthi-run Al-Masirah TV also reported on Saturday that Saudi coalition airstrikes resulted in the deaths of several civilians in Sanaa and the port city of Hodeidah. Riyadh has not yet issued a formal comment regarding these alleged raids, leaving the full scope of the weekend's violence unclear. The situation highlights the growing instability as both sides seek to gain ground.
