Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi movement has claimed responsibility for launching ballistic missiles and drones at Abha International Airport in southwestern Saudi Arabia, marking a significant escalation in regional tensions. The group also warned international airlines against flying through Saudi airspace, saying the warning would remain in effect until restrictions on flights to Sanaa are lifted.
According to Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Saree, the attack was carried out in retaliation for recent strikes on Sanaa International Airport, which the group blamed on Saudi Arabia. In a televised statement, Saree said the operation targeted Abha airport using multiple ballistic missiles and unmanned aerial vehicles.
However, the Saudi-backed Yemeni government said it was responsible for the strikes on Sanaa airport, stating they were intended to prevent an Iranian aircraft from landing at the Houthi-controlled airport. Authorities alleged the aircraft violated existing restrictions governing flights into Yemeni airspace.
Tensions Over Flights to Sanaa
The latest confrontation followed reports that a Houthi delegation had travelled to Tehran and was expected to return aboard an Iranian aircraft. Yemeni authorities claimed efforts were made to persuade the delegation to use a domestic Yemenia flight instead, but those attempts were unsuccessful.
The Yemeni Defence Ministry accused the Houthis of allowing an Iranian aircraft to enter Yemeni airspace in violation of existing regulations, prompting military action against the airport’s runway.
For more than a decade, flights entering Yemeni airspace have required prior approval under restrictions enforced by the Saudi-led coalition supporting Yemen’s internationally recognised government.
Fears of Renewed Regional Escalation
The exchange has raised concerns over a possible resurgence of direct hostilities between the Houthis and Saudi Arabia after a period of relative calm. Although the UN-brokered truce formally expired in 2022, large-scale fighting between the two sides had remained limited.
The latest developments also come amid heightened tensions across the Middle East, with renewed confrontation involving the United States and Iran adding to regional security concerns.
Saudi Arabia has led a military coalition supporting Yemen’s internationally recognised government since 2015 against the Houthis, who currently control the capital Sanaa and much of northern Yemen. The prolonged conflict has resulted in thousands of deaths and contributed to one of the world’s most severe humanitarian crises.