Yemeni Army Reports 700 Operations as Houthi Missiles Reach Aden and Saudi Arabia

The Yemeni army conducted more than 700 targeting operations in the 24 hours leading up to Saturday, according to Colonel Majed Abdullah al-Nazili, a government spokesman. He stated that these actions neutralized 300 Houthi fighters and disabled military vehicles, although independent verification of these figures is pending. The operations focused on field command centres, weapons depots, and supply lines in Taiz, where intense clashes have continued for days.

Houthi forces launched a new wave of attacks on Saturday, targeting both Saudi Arabia and Aden, the seat of Yemen’s internationally recognized government. The Yemeni Transport Ministry condemned the strikes on Aden International Airport, noting that two ballistic missiles hit the facility. This marks the fourth such incident at the airport in the current month. Officials warned that the attacks threaten civil aviation safety and carry humanitarian and economic consequences for travelers.

Yemeni authorities reported that the coastguard headquarters and another building were also struck in Aden. The Houthi group claimed responsibility for hitting the al-Nasr camp and a naval military base. In a separate incident on Friday, the Yemeni army announced that a malfunctioning Houthi missile crashed into a family home in Sanaa, killing three people. The military noted that this was one of several missile malfunctions observed from the Iran-backed group in recent weeks.

Saudi Arabia’s civil defence agency confirmed on X that the Houthis launched two ballistic missiles toward Mecca and Medina. The agency warned of falling shrapnel after intercepting the projectiles. Images released by the Saudi Press Agency showed a large, blackened missile-shaped object that landed within Saudi territory. Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi, the Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council, described the attacks as heinous and a blatant disregard for civilian security.

The Houthi group disputed the official narrative regarding their targets. They called the claim that they aimed at Mecca and Medina a huge lie, stating instead that their intended targets were three Saudi airports, oil infrastructure, and an airbase. Houthi-run Al-Masirah TV reported on Saturday that Saudi coalition airstrikes killed several civilians in Sanaa and Hodeidah, a claim that could not be independently verified. Riyadh has not yet issued a formal comment on the alleged raids.

Since a fragile ceasefire agreed in 2022 collapsed in July, the Houthis have persistently used long-range strikes to target Saudi energy infrastructure and airports. This sustained pressure has defined the current phase of the conflict as fighting continues along Yemen’s front lines.