Yemen's Houthi rebels claimed on Monday that they had struck Riyadh's King Khalid International Airport, an Aramco refinery and several other Saudi targets with ballistic missiles and drones, in a sharp escalation of fighting in and around Yemen.
Brigadier General Yahya Saree, the Houthis' military spokesman, said in a pre-recorded statement that the attacks also targeted Abha airport, military facilities in Khamis Mushait and other "critical sites" in the cities of Najran and Jizan. The group claimed the strikes were retaliation for about 60 Saudi air and missile strikes across Yemen in the preceding 24 hours.
Coalition offensive on the coast
The claims came as the Saudi-led coalition announced a military operation against Houthi positions in Yemen's Red Sea province of Hodeidah on Monday, saying its naval forces had destroyed weapons depots, facilities storing booby-trapped boats and naval mines, and had thwarted an alleged plot to attack commercial waterways in the southern Red Sea.
Yemeni officials said forces allied with the internationally recognised government had retaken the towns of Dhubab, Bab and Hadeid near the strategic Bab el-Mandeb Strait as part of a major offensive launched early Monday, backed by 100 fighter jets providing continuous air support. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorised to speak to reporters.
Riyadh warned, Washington reacts
Loud explosions rattled Riyadh on Monday evening as the fighting escalated. The US Embassy in Riyadh warned American citizens on social media to be vigilant about possible drone or missile attacks.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio told reporters that Washington expected the Saudi-backed government to hit back at the rebels to reclaim territory, adding that the Saudis have "a right to defend themselves". Officials said the United States had provided support to Saudi Arabia's campaign, including intelligence sharing, target identification and planning for the offensive.
The Houthi claims have not been independently confirmed.
Sources:
- Free Malaysia Today: Yemen's Houthis claim they struck Riyadh airport, other Saudi sites
- Bastille Post (AP): Saudi-backed Yemeni forces expel Houthi rebels from several areas around key strait
- Israel National News: Saudi-led coalition launches Yemen operation against Houthis
Brigadier General Yahya Saree, the Houthis' military spokesman, said in a pre-recorded statement that the attacks also targeted Abha airport, military facilities in Khamis Mushait and other "critical sites" in the cities of Najran and Jizan. The group claimed the strikes were retaliation for about 60 Saudi air and missile strikes across Yemen in the preceding 24 hours.
Coalition offensive on the coast
The claims came as the Saudi-led coalition announced a military operation against Houthi positions in Yemen's Red Sea province of Hodeidah on Monday, saying its naval forces had destroyed weapons depots, facilities storing booby-trapped boats and naval mines, and had thwarted an alleged plot to attack commercial waterways in the southern Red Sea.
Yemeni officials said forces allied with the internationally recognised government had retaken the towns of Dhubab, Bab and Hadeid near the strategic Bab el-Mandeb Strait as part of a major offensive launched early Monday, backed by 100 fighter jets providing continuous air support. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorised to speak to reporters.
Riyadh warned, Washington reacts
Loud explosions rattled Riyadh on Monday evening as the fighting escalated. The US Embassy in Riyadh warned American citizens on social media to be vigilant about possible drone or missile attacks.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio told reporters that Washington expected the Saudi-backed government to hit back at the rebels to reclaim territory, adding that the Saudis have "a right to defend themselves". Officials said the United States had provided support to Saudi Arabia's campaign, including intelligence sharing, target identification and planning for the offensive.
The Houthi claims have not been independently confirmed.
Sources:
- Free Malaysia Today: Yemen's Houthis claim they struck Riyadh airport, other Saudi sites
- Bastille Post (AP): Saudi-backed Yemeni forces expel Houthi rebels from several areas around key strait
- Israel National News: Saudi-led coalition launches Yemen operation against Houthis
