The Saudi-led coalition said it intercepted a Houthi ballistic missile north of Riyadh on Wednesday, while officials in southern Yemen said two missiles targeted Aden International Airport as fighting between the two sides continues to intensify around the Bab al-Mandab Strait.
The escalation comes as Saudi-backed Yemeni government forces seek to reverse major Houthi gains along the Red Sea coast and around Bab al-Mandab, a crucial shipping route connecting the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden.
The media office of Aden’s security authority said two Houthi missiles targeted the airport early on Wednesday, adding that no casualties were reported.
Aden police said the attack posed “a direct threat to the safety of civilians, passengers, employees and flight crews”, while Yemen’s Human Rights Ministry said the strike could have caused a “humanitarian disaster”.
Yemen’s Transport Ministry said one missile landed near the runway minutes before a flight from Cairo was due to arrive. The landing was cancelled and the aircraft diverted to Jeddah, while two planes on the runway were moved over fears of further strikes.
The Houthis said their attack targeted Saudi military supplies at Badr camp near the airport.
Meanwhile, Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree said the group had targeted King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh with several drones, while missiles and drones were used against Abha airport and King Khalid Air Base in Khamis Mushait.
Saudi authorities had not confirmed an attack on Riyadh airport, although flight-tracking website Flightradar24 recorded temporary disruptions to flights during the period.
The Saudi-led coalition separately said it intercepted a Houthi ballistic missile launched towards Khamis Mushait. Saudi authorities did not immediately confirm the claimed attack on Abha airport.
The latest strikes follow attacks on airports in Jizan and Najran near the Yemeni border, where Saudi authorities said three people were injured.
War Crimes Allegations
The fighting has also drawn war crimes allegations after footage emerged showing Yemeni government forces driving armoured vehicles over Houthi fighters during battles near Bab al-Mandab.
The videos, posted by government forces and verified by Reuters, were filmed from inside the armoured vehicles. Some of the Houthi fighters shown were armed and moving away from the vehicles, while others appeared unarmed and were sitting, lying or crouching on the ground.
In one sequence, an armoured vehicle strikes an unarmed man who is running and another crouching on the ground before turning back and driving over two men with their hands raised. Gunfire can be heard during the footage, while the windscreen of one vehicle is later seen cracked by a gunshot.
The Houthis described the footage as evidence of war crimes, saying it showed “the true nature of the Saudi regime and the forces it has mobilised from extremist factions”.
Asil al-Saqladi, spokesperson for the Giants Brigade, the main Yemeni government force involved in the fighting around Bab al-Mandab, said the force was investigating the incident.
He said the brigade had been led to believe that Houthi fighters were surrendering, but that some of them subsequently opened fire on government forces.
The Saudi-led coalition did not immediately comment on the footage or the Houthi allegations.
The Homeland Shield Forces, another formation within the government military coalition, did not directly address the videos but instructed its personnel to treat prisoners in accordance with religious, ethical and legal standards.
Heavy Fighting Around Bab al-Mandab
Fighting has continued around Bab al-Mandab as government forces seek to consolidate gains made during a Saudi-backed counteroffensive launched earlier this week.
Government forces said they had retaken several areas near the strait after Houthi advances along Yemen’s western coast last month. The Houthis have denied losing ground, while Reuters said it could not independently verify the extent of the government gains.
Heavy fighting has also continued around Taiz, where recent Houthi advances in mountainous areas have cut a main road towards Aden and placed government-held areas under increasing pressure.
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