Yemen Frontline: New Missile Barrage Hits Saudi Arabia and Aden

Houthi militants have launched a fresh series of attacks that reached deep into Saudi Arabia and struck the heart of Aden, where Yemen’s internationally recognized government is based. This latest round of hostilities marks a significant step up in violence as the group continues to pressure both its regional rival and the government it opposes on the ground.

The targeting of Aden International Airport on Saturday drew sharp condemnation from Yemen’s Transport Ministry. Officials noted that two ballistic missiles hit the facility, making it the fourth such attack this month. They warned that these strikes put civil aviation at risk and will have serious economic and humanitarian impacts on residents who rely on the airport for travel. Authorities also reported damage to the coastguard headquarters and another building in the city. The Houthis claimed responsibility for hitting the al-Nasr camp and a naval military base.

In a separate incident on Friday, Yemen’s army said a Houthi missile malfunctioned and crashed into a family home in Sanaa, a city under Houthi control. The crash killed three people. Military officials noted that this incident is part of a pattern of missile malfunctions attributed to the Iran-backed group in recent weeks. Meanwhile, Houthi-run Al-Masirah TV reported that Saudi coalition airstrikes killed several civilians in Sanaa and the port city of Hodeidah on Saturday. Riyadh has not yet officially commented on these alleged raids, and the claims have not been independently verified.

Saudi Arabia’s civil defence agency confirmed on social media that two ballistic missiles were launched toward Mecca and Medina on Saturday. The agency warned of falling shrapnel after intercepting the projectiles. Images from the Saudi Press Agency appeared to show a large, blackened missile fragment that landed inside Saudi territory. Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi, the Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council, called the attacks heinous, stating in a Saturday statement that they showed a blatant disregard for the safety of civilians.

The Houthi group pushed back against the official account of their targets. They called the claim that they aimed at Mecca and Medina, the holiest cities in Islam, a huge lie. Instead, they said their intended targets were three Saudi airports, oil infrastructure, and an airbase.

Since a fragile ceasefire agreed in 2022 collapsed in July, the Houthis have consistently used long-range strikes to target Saudi energy facilities and airports. This sustained pressure has become a defining feature of the current phase of the conflict. Intense fighting continues along Yemen’s front lines as Houthi forces battle government 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 in the previous 24 hours. He claimed these operations neutralized 300 Houthi fighters and disabled military vehicles, though these figures have not been independently verified. The operations focused on field command centres, Houthi gatherings, weapons depots, and supply lines in Taiz, a region where heavy clashes have persisted for days.