Houthis Strike Saudi Airports and Oil Facilities
Houthi forces claim major strikes on Saudi airports and Aramco oil facilities, declaring Saudi airspace unsafe for international flights.
In a massive escalation of regional tensions, Yemeni Houthi forces have claimed responsibility for a series of intense strikes targeting Saudi Arabia's critical aviation and energy infrastructure. Over a 24-hour period, the rebel group launched ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, and drones, prompting a dire warning to international travelers that Saudi airspace has become "unsafe."
Chaos at Major Aviation Hubs
The strikes have caused significant disruption to Saudi Arabia's transport networks. According to statements from the Houthi military spokesperson, Brigadier General Yahya Saree, King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh was hit for the second time in 24 hours and the third time this week. A projectile struck Terminal 4, triggering a fire and forcing a complete closure of the airport.
The disruption extended to the Eastern Province, where the group claimed a direct strike on King Fahd International Airport in Dammam, effectively crippling air traffic in the region. In a sweeping warning to the international community, the Houthis advised all foreign workers, experts, and commercial travelers to avoid Saudi aviation hubs, noting that the airspace is no longer safe, with the sole exception of the holy cities of Mecca and Medina.
Energy Infrastructure Under Fire
Beyond aviation, the Houthi operations specifically targeted the economic backbone of the kingdom: its oil and gas sector. The rebel group claimed to have executed precise strikes against Saudi Aramco assets in the Eastern Province.
The operations included:
- Shugadam Gas Facility: A targeted strike on this Aramco facility reportedly resulted in large fires.
- Tanajib Oil Refinery: A precise strike on this processing asset led to ignition at the site.
Retaliation for Coalition Airstrikes
The Houthi leadership framed these "qualitative operations" as a direct response to what they described as "brutal Saudi aggression." The group claimed that the strikes were a retaliation for 124 coalition airstrikes conducted in the previous 24 hours, which they say targeted various governorates including Sana'a, Taiz, Ma'rib, Al-Jawf, Hajjah, Al-Hudaydah, and Sa'dah.
The group's statement emphasized the human cost of the ongoing conflict, claiming that the escalation has resulted in massacres where the majority of victims are women and children. They further asserted that their recent military operations included targeting troop concentrations in the Ras al-Ara and al-Saqiya areas, claiming that their ballistic missiles and drones resulted in significant casualties among Saudi forces.