Oct 7 (Reuters) – Yemeni forces known as the Houthis launched attacks on Aden's international airport using ballistic missiles and explosive drones on Wednesday, according to the country's Transport Ministry. This assault comes as clashes between the Iran-aligned group and Saudi-backed government forces have escalated.
Recently, the fighting has centered around the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, an important shipping route that has gained significance for energy exports, especially as trade through the Strait of Hormuz has faced restrictions due to tensions between the US and Iran.
This week, Yemeni government troops, backed by air support from a Saudi-led coalition, launched a counter-offensive to regain key territory near the strait and the town of Mocha, which the Houthis had taken in September. However, it remains uncertain whether they will be able to maintain this momentum.
The ongoing battle, which is an extension of the larger US-Iran conflict, has reignited a complicated 12-year war in Yemen, contributing to one of the world’s most severe humanitarian crises and further fragmenting the already impoverished country.
The Houthis have frequently targeted critical infrastructure, such as airports, oil refineries, and pipelines in Saudi Arabia, a key ally of the US.
On Wednesday, the Saudi-led coalition reported that it intercepted and destroyed a Houthi ballistic missile launched towards the area north of Riyadh, the Saudi capital. They stated they were tracking the launch platform located in Houthi-controlled Sanaa and planned to destroy it, but did not provide details about any casualties or damage.
Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Saree announced that they attacked King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh using multiple drones, although there was no immediate confirmation from Saudi officials regarding the airport attack.
BATTLES OVER THE STRAIT
Clashes on the western front are mostly happening in the Dhubab district, which overlooks Bab el-Mandeb. Pro-government forces are trying to make gains in the strategic hills east of this coastal plain, according to military and governmental sources in Yemen. Intense fighting is ongoing, and the Houthis assert that they have successfully repelled attacks.
On Monday, Yemeni government officials claimed they had reached Mocha, which is crucial as it connects to a supply route for the important battleground of Taiz. However, military officials and analysts on the ground noted that this claim was premature.
Hussam Radman, a researcher at the Sanaa Center, a think tank focusing on Yemen, stated that pro-government forces, including the Giants Brigade, aim to take control of Dhubab and advance into the mountains east of it.
Gaining control of these highlands would allow government forces to advance more easily along the coastline, Radman explained.
AIRPORT STRUCK
To the east along Yemen's coast, one missile struck near the runway at Aden International Airport just minutes before a flight from Cairo was set to arrive, as reported by the Transport Ministry. Authorities canceled the landing and redirected the plane to Jeddah while moving two other planes away from the area due to concerns about further missile strikes. The Houthis did not respond immediately.
Aden International Airport serves as the main international entry point for regions of Yemen not under Houthi control.
The Houthis, who dominate much of northern Yemen, captured the capital, Sanaa, in 2014. This led to a military intervention by a Saudi-led coalition, which fears Iran's influence in Yemen could lead to chaos on its borders. A UN-brokered truce in 2022 reduced heavy fighting considerably but did not result in a lasting peace agreement.
The Saudi-led coalition accuses Iran of providing arms, training, and funding to the Houthis, a group of mountain fighters who have evolved into a significant force, threatening the region with their missiles and drones. The Houthis deny being part of Iran’s proxy network in the Middle East, claiming they produce their own weapons, with Tehran also rejecting these accusations.
Earlier on Wednesday, the Saudi-led coalition reported having intercepted and destroyed a Houthi ballistic missile directed toward Khamis Mushait, a city in southwestern Saudi Arabia, as noted by Saudi state television.
In another statement, Saree mentioned that the Houthis targeted Abha International Airport and a military base in Khamis Mushait with both ballistic missiles and drones. Saudi authorities did not immediately confirm an incident at Abha airport.