Yemen Conflict: Saudi Coalition Targets Houthi Missile Infrastructure

The Saudi-led coalition announced on Monday that it destroyed four ballistic missile launchers and five storage tunnels in a new military operation against Yemen’s Houthi forces. Coalition spokesman Turki al-Maliki stated that the strikes were designed to neutralize sources of threat and cut off supply lines between areas controlled by the Houthi militia. The operation also targeted fortifications, military equipment, and gatherings of Houthi members along the front lines inside Yemen.

These strikes come as the Houthis, also known as Ansar Allah, continue a wave of attacks on Saudi infrastructure. In a post on X, al-Maliki confirmed that coalition forces hit a missile depot during the operation. The Houthi military spokesman, Yahya Saree, claimed on social media that his group attacked Riyadh’s King Khalid international airport with a ballistic missile. He said the strike hit its target with precision, although Saudi air defenses said they intercepted and destroyed one missile launched toward the capital.

The airport had been closed temporarily after a Houthi attack this month killed 13 people and wounded more than 300. That incident marked the deadliest attack on the kingdom in over a decade. The closure forced the postponement of Saudi Arabia’s flagship investment conference until 2027 and disrupted travel for thousands. Flights resumed on Sunday, but the Houthis warned travelers to avoid the facility, labeling it a military target.

Saree also claimed responsibility for drone attacks on oil pumping stations in Saudi Arabia. In a separate statement, he said Houthi ballistic missiles struck enemy forces and weapons depots in Yemen. The specific targets included positions in the Salah al-Din area of Aden governorate and the al-Wahat area of Lahij governorate.

The conflict reignited in the summer when the Houthis announced a maritime blockade on Saudi Arabia. A truce that had halted most fighting since 2022 collapsed last month, leading to a Houthi offensive that seized much of Yemen’s Red Sea coast from government forces. Yemen’s government launched a counteroffensive called Operation Yemen Dawn this month to recapture territory.

As operations resumed at Riyadh airport, Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis met with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. His office said Mitsotakis agreed to keep a US-made Patriot air defense system in Saudi Arabia. The battery, deployed by Greece in 2021, protects energy infrastructure in Yanbu on the Red Sea coast.

On Sunday, the coalition reported that air defenses intercepted at least 10 ballistic missiles. The kingdom’s civil defense agency said two people were injured in the south by falling debris. The agency also reported damage to several buildings and vehicles.

Images from the kingdom’s official press agency showed a building with its upper facade destroyed, exposing metal rods. Another photo captured large shattered windows, with glass shards strewn across the pavement and part of the road.