Coalition claims destruction of Houthi missile sites after airport strikes

Coalition spokesman Turki al-Maliki announced on Monday that Saudi-led forces destroyed four ballistic missile launchers and five underground tunnels used by Yemen’s Houthis to store weapons. The military operation was designed to neutralize immediate threats and sever supply lines between areas controlled by the militant group. Al-Maliki stated that airstrikes also hit a missile depot and targeted fortifications along the front lines inside Yemen.

The strikes come as the conflict intensifies following a wave of recent attacks on Saudi infrastructure. This month, a Houthi missile hit Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport, killing 13 people and wounding more than 300. The incident marked the deadliest attack on the kingdom in over a decade. The damage forced the airport to close temporarily, causing thousands of travel disruptions and pushing Saudi Arabia’s flagship investment conference to 2027.

Flights resumed at the airport on Sunday, though Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree warned travelers to avoid the facility. Saree called the airport a military target. He claimed on Monday that his forces struck the site with a precision ballistic missile. Al-Maliki countered that Saudi air defenses intercepted and destroyed a Houthi missile launched toward the capital.

Houthi forces also claimed responsibility for drone attacks on oil pumping stations in Saudi Arabia. In a separate statement, Saree detailed additional missile strikes on military positions in Yemen. The targets included weapons depots in the Salah al-Din area of Aden governorate and the al-Wahat area of Lahij governorate.

The current escalation stems from the collapse of a 2022 truce last month. Houthis launched a rapid offensive that captured much of Yemen’s Red Sea coast from government forces. They also began attacking Saudi energy sites and airports. The war reignited in the summer when the Houthis announced a maritime blockade against Saudi Arabia, which has supported the internationally recognized government since 2015.

Yemeni government forces launched Operation Yemen Dawn this month to retake territory held by the Houthis. As the conflict continues, diplomatic efforts are also underway to secure air defense systems. Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis met with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to discuss keeping a Patriot air defense battery in the kingdom. Greece deployed the system in 2021 to protect energy infrastructure in Yanbu on the Red Sea coast.

The coalition reported that air defenses intercepted at least ten ballistic missiles on Sunday. The Saudi civil defense agency said two people were injured in the south by falling debris. The agency also recorded damage to several buildings and vehicles. Official press images showed a building with a destroyed upper facade and exposed metal rods. Other photos captured shattered windows and glass debris scattered across the pavement and nearby roads.

The Houthis, also known as Ansar Allah, have been fighting for control of Yemen since 2014. The Saudi-led coalition intervened to restore the recognized government. The recent exchanges highlight the ongoing struggle for dominance along the Red Sea and the pressure on Saudi infrastructure.