Houthis Strike Aden Airport and Fire Ballistic Missiles at Saudi Arabia as Yemen Counteroffensive Escalates

Houthi rebels struck Aden International Airport in southern Yemen on October 7 with two ballistic missiles and explosive drones, targeting the runway and passenger terminal, Yemen's Ministry of Transport confirmed. The attack came as Saudi-backed government forces launched a counteroffensive to push the Houthis back from the Red Sea coast, including the strategic Bab el-Mandeb Strait.

The Houthis also fired ballistic missiles into Saudi Arabia, targeting King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh and airports in Jazan and Najran. The Saudi-led coalition intercepted and destroyed the missile aimed north of Riyadh, and the Saudi military confirmed interception of a ballistic missile fired toward the capital. Two Saudi airports, Jazan and Najran, were struck on Monday evening, injuring three people and causing limited damage, according to Saudi aviation authorities.

The broader context involves a significant battlefield shift, with Saudi-backed Yemeni forces recapturing several key areas around the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, including the Red Sea port city of Mokha, roughly 75 kilometers north of the strait. Houthi forces denied losing ground, with a spokesman insisting the rebels maintained full control of their positions. Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Pakistan agreed to deploy forces and activate deterrence measures against the Houthis in response to the airport attacks. Separately, Russia launched a mass missile and drone attack on Kyiv overnight on October 7, coinciding with President Vladimir Putin's 74th birthday, with explosions reported in the city center and the Podilsky district.