Key Takeaways
- Yemen’s Houthi rebels launched wide-ranging strikes on southern Saudi Arabia.
- Riyadh’s international airport is set to partially reopen despite repeated attacks.
- The Saudi-led military coalition intercepted at least 10 ballistic missiles.
Yemen’s Houthi rebels launched a series of strikes across southern Saudi Arabia on Sunday, targeting areas near Riyadh, Khamis Mushait, and other cities. The attacks come as the Saudi-led coalition prepares to partially reopen Riyadh’s international airport, which had been closed for two weeks due to Houthi attacks.
Local residents in Khamis Mushait reported that the bombardment was heavy, with explosions shaking the area. ‘The bombardment has been very heavy since this morning — may God keep us safe. Everything is shaking because of the explosions,’ one resident told AFP, speaking on condition of anonymity.
Riyadh’s international airport announced that flights would resume on Sunday, but the extent of its operational capacity remained unclear. The airport had been closed following a Houthi attack that killed 13 people and injured over 300, the deadliest in the kingdom in over a decade.
The Saudi-led coalition reported intercepting a ballistic missile launched by the Houthis towards Riyadh and two drones in the capital area. In a separate incident, the coalition said it had intercepted a cruise missile fired by the Houthis at Khamis Mushait.
Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree warned that Riyadh airport was still unsafe and a military target, urging airlines, staff, and travelers to avoid using the airport. ‘The Yemeni Armed Forces warn all international, regional and local airlines — as well as staff and travellers — against using King Khalid Airport in Riyadh, as it is unsafe and serves as a military target for our forces,’ he said.
The Saudi civil defence agency responded to falling debris in the Makkah and Madina regions on Saturday after intercepting two Houthi missiles. The Houthis denied targeting the cities, calling the Saudi claim a ‘huge lie’.
The attacks appear to have targeted areas across the south, with warnings issued for Abha city and other areas in Taif, Namas, and Jazan. The Saudi-led coalition intercepted a ballistic missile launched by the Houthis towards Riyadh and a cruise missile fired at Khamis Mushait.
The fighting erupted after a years-long truce between the Houthis and Yemen’s government fell apart. The Saudi-led coalition has faced a barrage of strikes from the group in recent weeks, with the Houthis also targeting oil infrastructure and other sites.
The Yemeni Armed Forces warn all international, regional and local airlines — as well as staff and travellers — against using King Khalid Airport in Riyadh, as it is unsafe and serves as a military target for our forces.
Yahya Saree, Houthi military spokesman
