Yemen’s Houthis say struck airport in Saudi capital
Supporters of the Houthi authorities brandish their weapons and hold placards showing the Kaaba and reading “For it, we willingly offer our souls” during a protest against the Saudi intervention in Yemen and against Saudi Arabia’s recent accusation that the Houthis fired at the holy city of Mecca, in Sanaa on September 18, 2026. Houthi forces reported fresh Saudi airstrikes, as Riyadh accused the group of launching a “cowardly” attack targeting Islam’s holy city of Mecca, prompting a wave of outrage from around the Muslim world. Mohammed Huwais, AFP Yemen’s Houthis said Thursday that they struck the Saudi capital’s main international airport with a ballistic missile, in another attack on the kingdom claimed by the Iran-backed group.
The claim came a day after the anti-government fighters said they launched a series of attacks in Saudi Arabia that killed three people, and after the Riyadh-backed Yemeni government announced a major counter-offensive against the Houthis.
The Houthis, who control most of the country’s northwest, are battling against the Yemeni government for territory after the civil war reignited in July.
“Our armed forces successfully targeted King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh with a ballistic missile, which accurately struck its target and disrupted airport operations,” Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree said on X.
This marks the third time this week that the group has claimed responsibility for an attack on the airport.
“We reiterate our call and warning — for the last time — to all international airlines against continuing to operate flights through Saudi airspace,” Saree added.
The fighting has displaced more than 200,000 people within the country, the United Nations said Wednesday.
Yemen’s internationally recognized government this week declared a major counter-offensive and claims to have pushed Houthi fighters out of strategic areas on the Red Sea and the port city of Mocha.
Saudi Arabia vows to respond ‘firmly’ to Houthi attacks