Yemen War: Coalition claims destruction of nine Houthi sites

The Saudi-led coalition announced it had destroyed nine Houthi military assets in a new round of strikes.

Coalition spokesman Turki al-Maliki stated on Monday that the operation targeted four ballistic missile launchers and five tunnels. These sites were used by the Houthi group, also known as Ansar Allah, to store weapons. Al-Maliki said the forces also hit a missile depot and focused on cutting supply lines between areas under Houthi control. The strikes extended to fortifications, member gatherings, and equipment along the front lines inside Yemen.

The Houthi military spokesman, Yahya Saree, disputed the coalition's narrative of dominance. He claimed on social media that his group launched a ballistic missile at Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport on Monday. Saree said the missile struck its target with precision. Al-Maliki countered that Saudi air defenses intercepted and destroyed the incoming missile before it reached the city.

Saree also claimed that Houthi drones attacked oil pumping stations in Saudi Arabia. In a separate statement, he took responsibility for ballistic missile attacks on weapons depots and enemy forces in Yemen. These strikes targeted positions in the Salah al-Din area of Aden governorate and the al-Wahat area of Lahij governorate.

The recent violence follows a major escalation in the Yemen war. The Houthis began a maritime blockade of Saudi Arabia in the summer. This conflict reignited after a 2022 truce collapsed last month. The Houthis then launched a fast offensive that seized much of Yemen’s Red Sea coast from government forces. They also began attacking Saudi energy facilities and airports.

A Houthi attack on the Riyadh airport earlier this month killed 13 people and wounded more than 300. It was the deadliest attack on the kingdom in over a decade. The strike forced the airport to close temporarily. This disruption postponed Saudi Arabia’s flagship investment conference until 2027 and affected travel for thousands of passengers.

Flights resumed at the airport on Sunday. The Houthis warned travelers to avoid the facility, labeling it a military target. Yemen’s government forces launched the Operation Yemen Dawn counteroffensive this month to recapture territory held by the Houthis.

As the airport reopened, Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis met with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. The two discussed a key air defense system. Mitsotakis’s office said he agreed to keep the Patriot system in Saudi Arabia. Greece deployed this US-made battery to protect energy infrastructure in Yanbu in 2021.

The Saudi-led military coalition said air defenses intercepted at least 10 ballistic missiles on Sunday. The kingdom’s civil defense agency reported that two people were injured in the south by falling debris. The agency also noted damage to several buildings and vehicles.

Images from the kingdom’s official press agency showed a building with a destroyed upper facade and exposed metal rods. Another photo captured large shattered windows, with glass shards scattered across the pavement and part of the road.