Yemen’s Houthi movement announced Wednesday that it launched ballistic and cruise‑missile drones against several Saudi Arabian targets, including King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, Abha Airport, and military facilities in Khamis Mushait, Najran and Asir. The group’s military spokesman, Brig. Gen. Yahya Saree, posted the claim on social media but did not provide visual evidence.
According to flight‑tracking service Flightradar24, flights to and from Riyadh’s airport were temporarily halted as aircraft were held away from the runway. Saudi officials said that a ballistic missile fired toward Riyadh was intercepted and destroyed north of the capital by coalition forces, a statement made by Maj. Gen. Turki al‑Malki, spokesman for the Saudi‑led coalition fighting the Houthis.
Broader conflict context
The attacks come amid an intensified Saudi‑Yemeni offensive on the Houthi rebels along Yemen’s western coast and other fronts. The coalition’s ground and air campaign aims to weaken the Iran‑backed insurgents, who have been fighting the internationally recognized Yemeni government for years.
In a separate development, the Houthis reported a missile strike on Yemen’s port city of Aden early Wednesday. An Associated Press journalist on the ground heard explosions around 2 a.m. local time, confirming the city experienced the attack.
Israel marks Oct. 7 anniversary
Across the region, Israelis gathered at intersections, bomb shelters and the site of a music festival overtaken by Hamas militants on Oct. 7, 2023, to commemorate the third anniversary of the attack that killed 1,200 people and left 251 hostages. The remembrance underscores the lasting impact of the Oct. 7 assault, which sparked the ongoing war in Gaza.
For Palestinians, the date marks another day of hardship. The Gaza Strip remains largely devastated, with most of its 2 million residents living in tent camps. Large portions of the territory’s cities lie in ruins, and more than half of the area remains under Israeli military control. Despite a cease‑fire agreement reached nearly a year ago, Israeli airstrikes continue on a near‑daily basis, contributing to a death toll in the tens of thousands.
Both the Houthi missile strikes and the anniversary observances illustrate the persistent volatility in the Middle East, where regional conflicts intersect with broader geopolitical tensions.
Original reporting: Alexandria, VA News – WTOP News — read the source article.
