Houthi Strikes Hit Two Saudi Airports in Jizan and Najran; Three Injured
Houthi Strikes Hit Two Saudi Airports in Jizan and Najran; Three Injured
Two airports in southern Saudi Arabia came under attack on Monday evening as hostilities between the kingdom and Yemen’s Houthi rebels escalated sharply. The Saudi airports attacked were King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz International Airport in Jizan and Najran International Airport, both close to the Yemeni border.
Saudi Arabia’s General Authority of Civil Aviation confirmed the strikes on Tuesday. It said three people suffered minor injuries and the attacks caused material damage. The authority said it was assessing the damage and taking steps to keep passengers and staff safe.
What the Saudi airports attacked claim involves
The Houthis claimed a wider wave of attacks on Monday night. Their spokesman said the group targeted King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, an Aramco refinery in Rabigh, Abha airport and the Khamis Mushait military base, using ballistic and cruise missiles and drones. Those claims could not be independently verified.
Aviation monitoring platform FlightsRadar24 said flights to and from Riyadh were put on hold for a few hours on Tuesday, and the airport’s website could not be accessed. Two residents of Riyadh told The National they heard explosions on Monday evening. The United States mission in the kingdom urged American citizens to remain vigilant amid the threat of drone or missile attacks.
Why the fighting is escalating
The strikes came as Saudi-backed Yemeni government forces pressed a major offensive to retake territory from the Houthis after weeks of rebel advances. Riyadh has stepped up airstrikes in support of the campaign, while the Houthis have answered with missile and drone attacks on Saudi airports, oil facilities and military sites.
Yemeni government forces claimed on Monday that they had secured the Bab el-Mandeb strait, the Dhubab area and the port city of Mokha. The Houthis denied losing control of those areas. The strait is the southern exit of the Red Sea, a key shipping lane between the Mediterranean and Asia that has grown more important since the Strait of Hormuz was effectively closed after the Iran war began.
The Houthis also warned international airlines to halt flights through Saudi airspace, except over the holy cities of Mecca and Medina. The European Union Aviation Safety Agency has warned airlines that repeated missile and drone attacks raise the risk of civilian aircraft being misidentified.
Makkah pact allies move to act
The attacks came a day after Turkey and Pakistan agreed to provide military forces and capabilities to Saudi Arabia under the Makkah defence pact. Ministers and military commanders from the three countries met in Riyadh on Monday and decided to move immediately to put their collective commitments into practice, according to a joint statement.
The fighting in Yemen has become the most active front in the wider regional confrontation, with Yemeni government forces striking Houthi targets around Sanaa and Hodeidah with Saudi-led coalition air support.
What happens next
The Saudi aviation authority said it would continue assessing the damage at both airports. With the Yemeni government offensive continuing on the Red Sea coast and the Houthis threatening further strikes, the confrontation shows no sign of easing.
Which Saudi airports were attacked?
King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz International Airport in Jizan and Najran International Airport, both in southern Saudi Arabia near the Yemeni border, were hit on Monday evening.
How many people were injured?
Three people suffered minor injuries, according to Saudi Arabia’s General Authority of Civil Aviation. The attacks also caused material damage.
Did the Houthis claim responsibility?
The Houthis claimed a wider set of strikes including Riyadh airport and an Aramco refinery, but those claims could not be independently verified. Saudi authorities confirmed only the Jizan and Najran airport attacks.
