Missile debris lands near Mecca and Medina as Aden airport hit

Travelers at Aden International Airport faced disruptions on Saturday after two ballistic missiles struck the facility. This marks the fourth time the airport has been targeted this month. The Yemeni Transport Ministry said the attacks threaten civil aviation safety and impact residents who rely on the airport for transport.

The conflict escalated after a fragile ceasefire agreed in 2022 collapsed in July. Since then, Houthi forces have used long-range strikes to target Saudi energy infrastructure and airports. On Friday, a Houthi missile malfunctioned and crashed into a family home in Sanaa, killing three people. Yemen's army stated this was one of several malfunctions observed from the Iran-backed group in recent weeks.

Saudi Arabia’s civil defence agency confirmed on Saturday that two ballistic missiles were launched toward Mecca and Medina. The agency warned of falling shrapnel after intercepting the projectiles. Images from the Saudi Press Agency showed a large, blackened missile-shaped object that landed within Saudi territory. The Houthi group disputed this account, calling the claim that they aimed at the holy cities a huge lie. They stated their intended targets were three Saudi airports, oil infrastructure, and an airbase.

Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi, the Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council, described the attacks as heinous. He said the strikes showed a blatant disregard for civilian lives and security. Meanwhile, Houthi-run Al-Masirah TV reported that Saudi coalition airstrikes killed several civilians in Sanaa and Hodeidah. Riyadh has not yet issued a formal comment on these specific allegations.

Ground fighting continues along Yemen’s front lines. Colonel Majed Abdullah al-Nazili, a Yemeni army spokesman, said government forces conducted more than 700 targeting operations in the previous 24 hours. He claimed these operations neutralized 300 Houthi fighters and disabled military vehicles. The spokesman said the operations focused on field command centres, gatherings, weapons depots, and supply lines in Taiz, where intense clashes have persisted for days.

Yemeni authorities also reported that the coastguard headquarters and another building in Aden were struck during the Saturday assault. The Houthi group claimed responsibility for hitting the al-Nasr camp and the naval military base in the city.