Saudi airports attacked as Yemen's west coast battle intensifies

Two airports in Saudi Arabia, King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz International in Jizan and Najran International in the south, were targeted in attacks on Tuesday as battles between Houthi rebels and Saudi-backed Yemeni forces escalated along the western coast. The attacks resulted in minor injuries and material damage, with the civil aviation authority assessing the impact and implementing security measures.

The Iran-backed Houthis claimed responsibility for attacks on Riyadh's King Khalid International Airport, an Aramco refinery in Rabigh, Abha International Airport, and the Khamis Mushait military base, though these claims could not be immediately verified. Flights to and from Riyadh's main airport were halted, and the airport's website became inaccessible.

The US mission in Saudi Arabia advised all American citizens to remain vigilant due to the heightened security risk. Turkey and Pakistan pledged to provide military assistance to Saudi Arabia as it faced the Houthi threat, with the three nations agreeing to deploy forces and capabilities swiftly. Meanwhile, the ongoing conflict in Yemen along the Red Sea saw the Saudi-led coalition destroy a missile launch platform in Sanaa, a missile storage facility in Saada, and conduct naval operations in Hodeidah to counter the Houthi militia's threats to waterways and naval assets.

The Houthis denied losing control of Bab Al Mandeb, Dhubab, and Mokha, strategic locations crucial to the vital shipping route connecting the Mediterranean and Asia.