Houthis claim responsibility for Saudi airport strike as regional tensions escalate

The Houthi movement claimed responsibility Sunday for a projectile strike on Terminal 4 of Abha airport in southwestern Saudi Arabia, according to reports monitoring the conflict in Yemen. The attack sparked a fire at the facility, forcing authorities to keep the airport closed following a similar assault the previous day.

The Saudi-led coalition, which has been conducting military operations against Houthi forces in Yemen since 2015, said air defences successfully intercepted a cruise missile near the airport in a separate incident. However, officials have not yet released detailed information about either attack.

The strikes represent a significant escalation in cross-border attacks by the Houthis, who have periodically targeted Saudi infrastructure during the protracted conflict. The group, which controls much of northern Yemen including the capital Sanaa, has previously launched drone and missile attacks against Saudi military and civilian targets.

The incidents underscore the persistent security challenges facing Saudi Arabia and the broader instability affecting the region. The continued attacks and airport closures disrupt civilian air traffic and underscore the humanitarian toll of the Yemen conflict, which has displaced millions and created one of the world's worst humanitarian crises.