Houthis launch fresh missiles at Saudi holy sites and Aden government hubs

The conflict in Yemen has taken a sharper turn this week as Houthi forces launched a coordinated series of attacks against Saudi Arabia and Aden, the headquarters of the internationally recognized government. The latest strikes have heightened tensions in the region, signaling a significant escalation in hostilities between the group and its rivals.

In Saudi Arabia, the civil defense agency confirmed on Saturday that two ballistic missiles were fired toward the cities of Mecca and Medina. The agency warned residents about falling shrapnel after the projectiles were intercepted. Images released by the Saudi Press Agency showed a large, darkened missile fragment that had landed within the kingdom. In a separate development, Houthi media reported that Saudi airstrikes killed several civilians in Sanaa and Hodeidah, though Riyadh has not yet commented on those claims.

The pressure extended to the ground in Yemen. The Transport Ministry condemned the targeting of Aden International Airport on Saturday, noting that two ballistic missiles hit the facility. This marks the fourth such attack on the airport this month. Officials warned that these incidents threaten civil aviation safety and have serious economic and humanitarian impacts for travelers. The Houthi group claimed responsibility for hitting the al-Nasr camp and a naval base in Aden. Yemeni authorities also reported that a coastguard headquarters and another building were struck during the assault.

The Houthis disputed the Saudi account of their targets. They called the claim that they aimed at the holy cities a huge lie, stating instead that their intended goals were three Saudi airports, oil infrastructure, and an airbase. In a related incident on Friday, Yemen’s army announced that a Houthi missile malfunctioned and crashed into a family home in Sanaa, killing three people. The military noted that such malfunctions have become more common in recent weeks.

Regional leaders have reacted strongly to the new wave of strikes. Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi, the Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council, described the attacks as heinous. He said the strikes showed a blatant disregard for the safety of civilians in the area.

On the battlefield, intense fighting continues along the front lines. Colonel Majed Abdullah al-Nazili, a Yemeni army spokesman, said government forces conducted more than 700 targeting operations over the previous 24 hours. He claimed these actions neutralized 300 Houthi fighters and disabled military vehicles, with the focus on command centers and supply lines in the Taiz region.

Since the fragile ceasefire from 2022 collapsed in July, the Houthis have relied on long-range strikes to target Saudi energy and transport infrastructure. This sustained pressure has become a defining feature of the current phase of the conflict, with both sides continuing to trade blows on multiple fronts.