Coalition says it destroyed four Houthi launchers and five tunnels
Strikes come after a deadly attack on Riyadh airport that killed 13 and forced a temporary closure.
By Sakura McCarthy ·
The Saudi-led coalition announced on Monday that it destroyed four ballistic missile launchers and five underground tunnels used by Yemen’s Houthis to store weapons. Coalition spokesman Turki al-Maliki stated that the operation aimed to neutralize sources of threat and cut off supply lines between areas under Houthi control.
Al-Maliki said forces also attacked a missile depot and targeted fortifications, military equipment, and gatherings of Houthi members along the front lines inside Yemen. The strikes follow a wave of attacks by the Houthis, known as Ansar Allah, on Saudi infrastructure in recent weeks.
Tensions escalated after a Houthi attack on Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport this month killed 13 people and wounded more than 300. It was the deadliest attack on the kingdom in over a decade. The strike forced the airport to close temporarily, disrupting travel and delaying Saudi Arabia’s flagship investment conference until 2027.
Flights resumed at the airport on Sunday. Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree warned travelers to avoid the facility, describing it as a military target. On Monday, Saree claimed the Houthis struck the airport again with a ballistic missile, saying they hit their target with precision.
Al-Maliki countered that Saudi air defenses intercepted and destroyed a ballistic missile launched toward Riyadh. Saree also claimed that Houthi drones attacked oil pumping stations in Saudi Arabia. In a separate statement, he said the group launched more ballistic missiles at enemy forces and weapons depots 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 2022 truce collapsed last month, allowing the Houthis to seize much of the Red Sea coast and attack Saudi energy sites. Yemen’s government launched the Operation Yemen Dawn counteroffensive this month to recapture lost territory.
As operations resumed at Riyadh airport, Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis met with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to discuss air defense systems. Mitsotakis agreed to keep a Greek-deployed Patriot air defense battery in Saudi Arabia, which protects energy infrastructure in Yanbu on the Red Sea coast.
On Sunday, the coalition reported that air defenses intercepted at least 10 ballistic missiles. Saudi civil defense officials said two people were injured by falling debris in the south. They also reported damage to several buildings and vehicles. Official press agency photos showed a building with a destroyed upper facade and shattered windows, with glass shards covering the pavement.
Source: Al Jazeera
