Houthi missile strikes hit Aden airport, Saudi cities targeted
Yemen's government says Houthi missiles struck Aden airport for the fourth time this month, while Saudi civil defence reports intercepting missiles aimed at Mecca and Medina.
The story in focus
Yemen's internationally recognised government accused the Houthis of striking Aden International Airport with two ballistic missiles on October 24, 2026, the fourth such attack that month, as well as a coastguard headquarters and a second building. Saudi civil defence said it intercepted two missiles launched toward Mecca and Medina, a claim the Houthis denied, saying they targeted three Saudi airports, oil infrastructure and an airbase.
- Yemen's Transport Ministry said two ballistic missiles hit Aden International Airport on Saturday, the fourth attack this month.
- The ministry warned the strikes threaten civil aviation safety and have humanitarian and economic repercussions.
- Saudi civil defence said on X it intercepted two missiles launched toward Mecca and Medina, with shrapnel falling.
- The Houthis rejected the claim they targeted the holy cities, saying their targets were three Saudi airports, oil infrastructure and an airbase.
- Houthi-run Al-Masirah reported Saudi coalition air strikes killed civilians in Sanaa and Hodeidah, a claim that could not be verified and on which Riyadh did not comment.
Aden airport and other targets
Yemen's Transport Ministry said in a Facebook post on Saturday that the Houthis targeted Aden International Airport with two ballistic missiles, describing it as the fourth such attack this month. The ministry warned that the strikes threaten civil aviation safety and have humanitarian and economic repercussions for citizens who rely on the airport.
Yemeni authorities said the coastguard headquarters and a second building were also hit. The Houthis claimed attacks on the al-Nasr camp and Aden's naval military base.
Yemen's army said a Houthi missile killed three people when it malfunctioned and fell on a family home in Houthi-held Sanaa on Friday, one of several recent missile malfunctions cited by the army.
Saudi interception claims and Houthi response
Saudi Arabia's civil defence said on X that the Houthis launched two ballistic missiles toward Mecca and Medina, warning of falling shrapnel after their interception. Images shared by the Saudi Press Agency appeared to show a blackened missile-shaped object that had landed in Saudi Arabia.
The Houthis called the claim that they targeted the two holy cities a 'huge lie'. They said their targets were three Saudi airports, oil infrastructure and an airbase.
Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi, Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council, described the Houthi attacks as 'heinous' and said they showed blatant disregard for civilian lives and security.
Fighting and unverified reports
Houthi-run Al-Masirah TV reported that Saudi coalition air strikes killed several civilians in Sanaa and the port city of Hodeidah. The claim could not be verified and Riyadh has not commented on the alleged raids.
Yemeni army spokesman Colonel Majed Abdullah al-Nazili said government forces carried out more than 700 'targeting operations' over the past 24 hours across Yemen, 'neutralising' 300 Houthi fighters and disabling military vehicles. Al Jazeera could not independently verify those figures.
Operations targeted field command centres, Houthi gatherings, weapons depots and supply lines in Taiz, where intense clashes have continued for days, the spokesman added.
What did the Houthis say about the Saudi claim that missiles were launched toward Mecca and Medina?
The Houthis called the claim a 'huge lie' and said their targets were three Saudi airports, oil infrastructure and an airbase, not the two holy cities.
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