Key Points
- Two southern Saudi airports were targeted Tuesday, leaving three people with minor injuries and causing material damage.
- The attacks coincided with intensified fighting near Bab el-Mandeb and fresh Houthi claims against other Saudi sites.
- The escalation threatens aviation security, Red Sea shipping and Riyadh’s effort to reinforce regional defenses.
The latest
King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz International Airport in Jizan and Najran International Airport were targeted Tuesday, the General Authority of Civil Aviation said. Three people sustained minor injuries and material damage was reported at the two airports near the Yemeni border. The authority began assessing the damage and taking measures to protect passengers and airport personnel while maintaining the security of Saudi Arabia’s civil aviation network.
Details
- Airport disruption: Flightradar24 reported that arriving and departing flights at King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh were suspended Tuesday, while the airport’s website was inaccessible. Riyadh residents said they heard explosions Monday evening. The US Mission in Saudi Arabia urged American citizens to remain vigilant because of the risk of drone and missile attacks.
- Earlier Houthi claims: The Iran-backed Houthis claimed responsibility Monday evening for attacks targeting Riyadh’s main airport, an Aramco refinery in Rabigh, Abha International Airport and the Khamis Mushait military base. The claims could not immediately be independently verified.
- Regional defense pact: Turkey and Pakistan agreed Monday to provide forces and military capabilities to Saudi Arabia under the Mecca Defense Pact. Ministers and military commanders from the three countries met in Riyadh, where a joint committee moved to implement collective commitments and rapidly deploy agreed forces and capabilities inside the kingdom.
- Coalition operations: Saudi-backed Yemeni government forces have fought Houthi units along the Red Sea coast near Bab el-Mandeb, supported by Saudi-led coalition air strikes. Coalition spokesman Major General Turki Al Malki said forces destroyed a ballistic missile launch platform in Sanaa and a storage facility in Saada containing 20 ballistic missiles.
- Coastal control disputed: Coalition naval forces also targeted Houthi infrastructure around Hodeidah, including weapons depots and facilities storing explosive-laden boats and naval mines. Yemeni government forces claimed they regained Bab el-Mandeb, Dhubab and Mokha on Monday. The Houthis denied losing those areas.
- Economic stakes: The escalation adds security pressure as Saudi Arabia pursues its Vision 2030 economic transformation, expands infrastructure and seeks international investment. Riyadh is confronting attacks on its territory while supporting a battle over maritime routes linking the Middle East with global markets.
Background
Bab el-Mandeb links the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden and Indian Ocean, forming a critical commercial route between Europe and Asia. Sustained disruption can affect shipping, energy supplies and global supply chains. It is distinct from the Strait of Hormuz, which connects the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman.
What’s next
The Mecca Defense Pact requires parliamentary approval in Pakistan and Turkey before formal ratification by their leaders. Those votes are the next step before agreed forces and military capabilities can be formally deployed to Saudi Arabia.
