Military Escalation: Houthis Target Abha Airport in Response to Sanaa Airport Bombing

The Ansar Allah group (Houthis) announced this Monday evening the execution of a large-scale military operation targeting Abha International Airport, located in the south of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The group clarified that this attack comes as a direct response to the airstrikes on Sanaa International Airport, holding Riyadh fully responsible for the consequences resulting from the continuation of aerial military operations.

For his part, the Houthi military spokesman, Yahya Saree, stated in a recorded statement that the missile force and drone air force targeted the airport with a mix of ballistic missiles and suicide drones. Saree issued a strong warning to civilian airlines, urging them to avoid flying in Saudi airspace, and linked the cessation of attacks to the lifting of the blockade imposed on the capital Sanaa airport.

In contrast, sources from the Saudi-led military coalition reported that air defenses were able to detect and engage hostile targets in the southern region of the Kingdom. The sources confirmed that the defense systems intercepted ballistic missiles launched from Yemeni territory towards civilian targets, noting the continued military vigilance to protect Saudi airspace from any cross-border threats.

In a related context, the internationally recognized Yemeni government revealed the motives behind the bombing of Sanaa Airport, where the Ministry of Defense confirmed in an official statement that targeting the runway was an emergency measure to prevent an Iranian plane from landing. The government accused the Houthi group of insisting on violating Yemeni sovereignty by allowing Iranian aviation to enter without prior coordination or adherence to established inspection procedures.

Concluding the field developments, informed sources mentioned that the Iranian plane, which was the focus of tension, later managed to land in Hodeidah port, which is under Houthi control. Reports indicated that the plane was carrying a number of wounded and stranded individuals, in addition to a Yemeni delegation that had participated in the funeral ceremonies of Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei in Tehran.

The Yemeni armed forces carried out a military operation targeting Abha International Airport with a number of ballistic missiles and drones in response to the criminal aggression.