Yemen's Houthis Launch Missiles at Saudi Arabia After Strikes on Sanaa Airport
Image: BBC News
Iran-backed Houthi forces in Yemen have launched missiles at Saudi Arabia, saying they targeted Abha airport in response to recent strikes on the airport in the Yemeni capital, Sanaa.
The group said the Saudi strikes on Sanaa's airport prompted the retaliation, framing the missile launch as a direct answer to what it described as aggression against Yemeni infrastructure. Saudi authorities have not immediately confirmed damage or casualties.
The exchange underscores the fragility of a tense regional balance, with the Houthis repeatedly demonstrating the ability to reach Saudi territory despite years of coalition air campaigns aimed at degrading their arsenal.
Analysts warn that strikes on airports on both sides risk escalating a conflict that has already produced one of the world's worst humanitarian crises. Any disruption to civilian aviation raises the stakes for regional powers and international carriers alike.
The United Nations and several foreign ministries have repeatedly called for de-escalation, but sporadic cross-border attacks have continued, complicating efforts to sustain any durable ceasefire.
Observers say the latest volley is likely to renew pressure on mediators to broker guarantees protecting civilian infrastructure, even as the broader political settlement remains elusive.