Yemen's Houthi rebels launched attacks that damaged Abha International Airport and King Abdullah Airport in Jizan, both near Saudi Arabia's border with Yemen, the kingdom announced. Saudi defense officials confirmed the damage but did not immediately disclose casualties or destruction details.
The airports serve as logistics hubs for Saudi military operations supporting the coalition fighting in Yemen and facilitate civilian travel and humanitarian aid into southern Saudi provinces. The Houthi movement, backed by Iran, has escalated cross-border assaults on Saudi Arabia, claiming retaliation for the Saudi-led coalition's campaign that began in 2015.
President Trump's administration condemned Houthi aggression and reiterated support for Saudi Arabia's right to self-defense. The U.S. sees the conflict through a Cold War lens: Saudi Arabia as a bulwark against Iranian expansion in the region.
The attacks come as Yemen faces what the United Nations calls the world's worst humanitarian crisis. Millions face starvation and disease, worsened by continued hostilities and blockades. Ceasefire negotiations have stalled, with key parties unable to agree on de-escalation terms.
Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Defense said it would take "all necessary measures" to protect its territory—language that typically precedes retaliatory airstrikes. The kingdom views the attacks as a direct threat to national security and regional stability.
