Yemen Conflict Escalates With New Strikes on Saudi Arabia and Aden
Houthi forces launched fresh attacks on major Yemeni infrastructure and Saudi holy cities, triggering a surge in ground combat and raising concerns over civilian safety in the region.
By Lauren Collins ·
The ongoing conflict in Yemen has intensified significantly this week as Houthi forces launched a new series of attacks against targets in both Saudi Arabia and the port city of Aden.
These strikes mark a sharp escalation in hostilities, reflecting the group's continued strategy to pressure its regional rival in the north while simultaneously challenging the internationally recognized government in the south. The attacks have drawn immediate reactions from officials in both countries, highlighting the widening scope of the fighting.
In Aden, the seat of Yemen's recognized government, the Transport Ministry condemned the targeting of the international airport on Saturday. The ministry confirmed via a social media post that two ballistic missiles were fired at the facility, which marks the fourth such incident this month. Officials emphasized that these attacks pose a direct threat to the safety of civil aviation. They also warned that the disruptions carry significant humanitarian and economic consequences for citizens who rely on the airport for essential travel.
The assault extended beyond the airport infrastructure. Yemeni authorities reported that the coastguard headquarters and another building were struck during the same offensive. The Houthi group claimed responsibility for hitting the al-Nasr camp and the naval military base in the city. In a separate incident on Friday, Yemen's army announced that a Houthi missile malfunctioned and crashed into a family home in Sanaa, a city currently under Houthi control. The malfunction killed three people, and the military noted that this was one of several similar technical failures observed from the Iran-backed group in recent weeks.
While ground fighting rages, Houthi-run Al-Masirah TV reported that Saudi coalition airstrikes resulted in the deaths of several civilians in Sanaa and the port city of Hodeidah. Although the claim could not be independently verified, Riyadh has not yet issued a formal comment regarding the alleged raids, leaving the details of the damage under scrutiny.
Saudi Arabia’s civil defence agency confirmed on Saturday that the Houthis had launched two ballistic missiles toward Mecca and Medina. The agency warned residents of falling shrapnel following the interception of the projectiles. Images released by the Saudi Press Agency appeared to show a large, blackened missile-shaped object that had landed within Saudi territory. Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi, the Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council, described the Houthi attacks as heinous. He stated that the strikes embodied a blatant disregard for the lives and security of civilians.
The Houthi group disputed the official narrative regarding their specific targets. They called the claim that they aimed at Mecca and Medina, the holiest cities in Islam, a huge lie. Instead, they stated that their intended targets were three Saudi airports, oil infrastructure, and an airbase. This dispute over the precise aims of the attacks adds another layer of complexity to the diplomatic and military dimensions of the conflict.
Since a fragile ceasefire agreed upon in 2022 collapsed in July, the Houthis have persistently used long-range strikes to target Saudi energy infrastructure and airports across the kingdom. This sustained pressure has become a defining feature of the current phase of the conflict, as both sides seek to leverage economic and strategic vulnerabilities.
Intense fighting continues along Yemen’s front lines as Houthi forces battle the internationally recognized government’s troops for control of key areas. Colonel Majed Abdullah al-Nazili, a Yemeni army spokesman, said on Saturday that government forces conducted more than 700 targeting operations over the previous 24 hours. He claimed these operations neutralized 300 Houthi fighters and disabled military vehicles, though Al Jazeera could not independently verify these figures.
The military spokesman added that the operations focused on field command centres, Houthi gatherings, weapons depots, and supply lines in Taiz. This region has seen intense clashes persist for days, underscoring the heavy toll the conflict continues to take on local communities and infrastructure.
Source: Al Jazeera
