Coalition strikes Houthi missile sites after airport reopened
Saudi forces destroyed four launchers and five tunnels in a new operation while Houthi fighters claimed fresh attacks on Riyadh and oil infrastructure.
By Charlotte Dubois ·
The Saudi-led coalition announced on Monday that it destroyed four ballistic missile launchers and five tunnels in Yemen. Coalition spokesman Turki al-Maliki stated the operation aimed to neutralize sources of threat. He said forces also attacked a missile depot to cut supply lines between Houthi-controlled areas.
The strikes targeted Houthi fortifications, equipment, and gatherings along the front lines inside Yemen. This action follows a recent wave of attacks by the armed group against Saudi infrastructure. The conflict has intensified after a truce collapsed last month, leading to a lightning offensive by Houthi forces that seized much of Yemen’s Red Sea coast.
The military activity comes as Riyadh’s King Khalid international airport resumes normal operations. The facility reopened on Sunday after a temporary closure caused by a deadly Houthi attack earlier this month. That strike killed 13 people and wounded more than 300, marking the deadliest attack on the kingdom in over a decade. The disruption forced the postponement of a major investment conference until 2027.
Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree claimed his forces launched a ballistic missile at the airport on Monday. He said the strike hit the target with precision. Al-Maliki countered that Saudi air defenses intercepted and destroyed the missile before it reached Riyadh.
Saree also claimed responsibility for drone attacks on oil pumping stations in Saudi Arabia. In a separate statement, he said Houthi forces targeted weapons depots and enemy positions in Yemen. The strikes focused on the Salah al-Din area of Aden governorate and the al-Wahat area of Lahij governorate.
Yemen’s government forces launched Operation Yemen Dawn this month to recapture territory. The war reignited in the summer when the Houthis announced a maritime blockade on Saudi Arabia. Saudi Arabia has supported the internationally recognized government since intervening in 2015 to restore it after the Houthis seized the capital Sanaa in 2014.
Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis met with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on Monday. The two discussed keeping a US-made Patriot air defense system in Saudi Arabia. Greece deployed the battery to protect energy infrastructure in Yanbu in 2021. Mitsotakis’ office said he responded favorably to the request given the challenging circumstances.
The coalition reported intercepting at least 10 ballistic missiles on Sunday. The civil defense agency said two people were injured in the south by falling debris. Several buildings and vehicles sustained damage. Official images showed a building with its upper facade destroyed and large windows shattered, with glass shards scattered across the pavement.
