Saudi Coalition Targets Houthi Missile Depots Amid Renewed Aerial Attacks

Tensions escalated on Monday as the Saudi-led coalition announced it had struck Houthi missile facilities in Yemen while the armed group claimed fresh attacks on Saudi infrastructure. The conflict highlights the financial and logistical strain on the kingdom as it defends its airspace and energy assets against a resurgent rebel force.

Coalition spokesman Turki al-Maliki stated that military forces destroyed four ballistic missile launchers and five tunnels used to store missiles. He added that the operation targeted a missile depot and aimed to cut off supply lines between areas under Houthi control. The strikes also focused on fortifications and military equipment along front lines inside Yemen.

The Houthi military, known as Ansar Allah, countered with its own claims of success. Spokesman Yahya Saree posted on social media that the group attacked Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport with a ballistic missile, which he described as a precise strike. Saree also claimed that drones hit oil pumping stations within Saudi Arabia. In a separate statement, he detailed missile attacks on weapons depots in the Salah al-Din area of Aden governorate and the al-Wahat area of Lahij governorate.

Al-Maliki disputed the Houthi claim regarding the airport strike. He said Saudi air defenses intercepted and destroyed a ballistic missile launched toward Riyadh. This exchange occurred just one day after the airport reopened following a temporary closure that disrupted travel for thousands of passengers.

The closure followed a Houthi attack earlier this month that killed 13 people and wounded more than 300. It was the deadliest attack on the kingdom in over a decade. The disruption forced the postponement of Saudi Arabia’s flagship investment conference until 2027. The Houthis have warned travelers to avoid the facility, labeling it a military target.

The current fighting follows a collapse in a 2022 truce that had halted most hostilities. The Houthis launched a rapid offensive last month, seizing much of Yemen’s Red Sea coast from government forces. They also began attacking Saudi energy facilities and airports. In response, Yemen’s government forces launched the Operation Yemen Dawn counteroffensive this month to recapture lost territory.

The war reignited in summer when the Houthis announced a maritime blockade on Saudi Arabia. The kingdom had intervened in 2015 to support the internationally recognized government, which was ousted from Sanaa by the Houthis in 2014. The recent escalation has renewed concerns about the stability of the region’s energy exports and air travel routes.

Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis met with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on Monday to discuss air defense systems. Mitsotakis agreed to keep a battery of the US-made Patriot system in Saudi Arabia. Greece deployed the system in 2021 to protect energy infrastructure in Yanbu on the Red Sea coast. His office stated he responded favorably to the request given the challenging circumstances.

The Saudi-led coalition said on Sunday that air defenses intercepted at least 10 ballistic missiles. The kingdom’s civil defense agency reported that two people were injured in the south by falling debris. The agency also noted damage to several buildings and vehicles. Official images showed a building with a destroyed upper facade and shattered windows with glass strewn across the pavement.