Houthi Missile Strikes on Saudi Airports Kill 3, Wound Dozens
At least three individuals lost their lives and dozens sustained injuries following coordinated Houthi assaults on two major international airports in Saudi Arabia. The civil aviation authority of the kingdom confirmed that King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh and Abha International Airport were targeted during incidents occurring on Tuesday and Wednesday. According to the agency, an Egyptian national and an Algerian national died at the Abha facility, while a Sudanese citizen was killed at the Riyadh airport. In total, 36 people were reported wounded across both sites.
The Houthis asserted responsibility for the barrage of strikes, which included a ballistic missile attack directed at King Khalid International Airport. These events highlight ongoing vulnerabilities in the kingdom's air defense infrastructure as the conflict in Yemen intensifies. The violence has drawn additional regional powers into the fray, with Pakistan and Turkey agreeing on Tuesday to activate the Mecca Pact. This joint defense agreement was originally signed by all three nations in August.
Reports indicate that Turkey is deploying troops and advanced air defense systems to Saudi Arabia to protect critical infrastructure. Simultaneously, Pakistan confirmed its deployment of military personnel to the kingdom as part of the pact obligations. In response to the escalating threats, Saudi Arabia has increased airstrikes against Houthi-controlled territories in support of Yemen’s internationally recognized government. The aim is to reverse recent Houthi gains along the Red Sea coastline and in the city of Taiz.
The United Nations stated on Wednesday that more than 200,000 people have been displaced due to the fighting. Earlier this week, the Yemeni government, backed by Saudi forces, launched a counter-offensive aimed at reclaiming coastal territory seized by the Houthis last month. On Sunday, officials announced that the campaign’s objective is to retake all land lost to the rebels over the past twelve years of war.
Battle lines remain fluid, with social media leaking images of intense combat. Videos appeared to show fighters from the Giants Brigade, aligned with the Saudi-backed government, engaging unarmed men and those surrendering on a beach. The Yemeni government claimed on Tuesday that it had regained control of the Arabian Gulf side of the Bab el-Mandeb Strait and the strategic port city of Mocha, which the Houthis had captured in September.
Houthi channels denied the loss of Mocha, posting footage of their fighters within the city. Independent reports and open-source information suggested that the fighting around the port involved primarily long-range missile exchanges rather than ground occupation, indicating that Mocha likely remains under Houthi control.
This report was produced in the Europe Brief News newsroom.
