Strikes hit airports in Riyadh and Abha as Saudi-backed Yemeni forces launch a counteroffensive near the strategic Bab el-Mandeb Strait
Riyadh, Oct 2026 : Three people were killed and 36 others injured in separate attacks on two Saudi Arabian airports as fighting between Iran-aligned Houthi forces and Saudi-backed Yemeni government troops intensified, authorities said.
Saudi Arabia’s General Authority of Civil Aviation said attacks on King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh and Abha International Airport took place on Tuesday and Wednesday. One person was killed and eight others injured in the attack on the Riyadh airport, while two people were killed and 28 wounded at Abha. The attacks also caused material damage, with authorities saying those injured were taken to hospitals.
The Houthis claimed responsibility for the attacks. Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree said the group had targeted King Khalid International Airport with drones and carried out another operation against Abha using ballistic missiles and drones.
The attacks prompted a strong response from the Saudi-led coalition supporting Yemen’s internationally recognised government. The coalition vowed that the strikes would not go unanswered and subsequently reported attacks on more than 80 Houthi military targets across several Yemeni provinces. Saudi authorities also said they intercepted a Houthi ballistic missile launched towards the Riyadh area and targeted its launch infrastructure.
The airport strikes formed part of a wider escalation targeting aviation and military infrastructure in both Saudi Arabia and Yemen.
In Yemen, the Houthis also launched missiles and drones towards Aden International Airport, with Yemeni authorities saying a missile landed close to the runway shortly before a flight from Cairo was due to arrive. The incident highlighted the growing risks to civilian aviation as fighting spreads across key transport and strategic facilities.
The latest escalation is closely linked to renewed fighting around the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, a vital maritime passage connecting the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden. The waterway is important for international shipping and energy trade, making the renewed conflict a concern beyond Yemen and Saudi Arabia.
Saudi-backed Yemeni government forces have launched a counteroffensive aimed at recovering strategic territory near the strait and around the port area of Mocha. The Houthis had captured positions in the region in September, strengthening their presence along a strategically important section of Yemen’s western coastline.
The renewed offensive has marked a significant escalation in Yemen’s long-running conflict. The United Nations and humanitarian agencies have warned of the impact on civilians, with the latest round of fighting displacing more than 200,000 people, adding to an already severe humanitarian crisis.
The Houthis have repeatedly targeted Saudi infrastructure during the wider conflict, including airports, energy facilities and other strategic sites. Riyadh and its allies accuse Iran of providing military and political support to the group, while Tehran and the Houthis reject the allegations.
The conflict dates back to 2014, when the Houthis seized Yemen’s capital, Sanaa, and expanded their control over large parts of the country. Saudi Arabia and its allies intervened militarily in 2015 in support of Yemen’s internationally recognised government, citing security concerns and the growing influence of Iran.
Years of fighting produced one of the world’s most serious humanitarian crises, while a period of relative calm had reduced the intensity of hostilities before the latest escalation.
The renewed violence has also drawn greater international attention because of the strategic importance of the Bab el-Mandeb Strait and the potential impact on shipping and regional security.
Saudi Arabia has been seeking greater international cooperation as the fighting intensifies. Turkey has been providing mainly defensive and technical assistance, while officials have indicated that Syria is considering possible military support for Riyadh.
The latest attacks have raised concerns over the safety of civilian infrastructure as the conflict spreads. The targeting of airports in Riyadh and Abha, alongside the attack near Aden airport, demonstrates the increasing overlap between military operations and facilities used by civilians.
With Saudi-backed forces pressing their offensive in Yemen and the Houthis continuing to launch missiles and drones, the conflict is entering another dangerous phase. The immediate focus remains on the fighting around the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, while the humanitarian consequences of the renewed violence continue to grow.
(Disclaimer :The content of this article is sourced from a news agency and has not been edited by the Mavericknews30 team.)
