Coalition Claims Destruction of Four Houthi Missile Launchers in New Yemen Strikes

The Saudi-led coalition in Yemen announced on Monday that it had conducted a fresh wave of airstrikes against Houthi positions. The operation follows a sharp rise in cross-border attacks that have disrupted travel and energy flows in the region.

Coalition spokesman Turki al-Maliki stated that forces destroyed four ballistic missile launchers and five tunnels used for missile storage. He added that a missile depot was also struck. Al-Maliki described the goal as cutting off supply lines between areas controlled by the Houthi militia. He noted that fortifications and military equipment along front lines inside Yemen were also targeted.

The Houthis, also known as Ansar Allah, have intensified strikes on Saudi airports and infrastructure in recent weeks. This escalation marks a return to heavy fighting in a conflict where Saudi Arabia supports the internationally recognised government. The war reignited this summer after the Houthis declared a maritime blockade. A 2022 truce collapsed last month when Houthi forces seized much of Yemen's Red Sea coast and attacked Saudi energy sites. Government forces launched a counteroffensive called Operation Yemen Dawn this month to retake territory.

Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree claimed on social media that the group hit Riyadh's King Khalid international airport again with a ballistic missile. He said the strike hit the target with precision. Saree also reported drone attacks on oil pumping stations in Saudi Arabia. In a separate statement, he said ballistic missiles struck forces and weapons depots in the Salah al-Din area of Aden governorate and the al-Wahat area of Lahij governorate.

Al-Maliki disputed the claim about the airport. He said Saudi air defences intercepted and destroyed a ballistic missile launched toward Riyadh. The airport reopened on Sunday after being closed following a deadly attack earlier this month. That earlier strike killed 13 people and wounded more than 300. It was the deadliest attack on the kingdom in over a decade. The incident caused thousands of passengers to change plans and led to the postponement of Saudi Arabia's flagship investment conference until 2027.

The Houthis warned travellers to avoid the airport, calling it a military target. On Sunday, the coalition said its air defences intercepted at least 10 ballistic missiles. The kingdom's civil defence agency reported that two people were injured in the south by falling debris. Several buildings and vehicles sustained damage from the impacts.

Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis met with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman as airport operations resumed. They discussed air defence capabilities. Mitsotakis' office said he agreed to keep a US-made Patriot system in Saudi Arabia. Greece deployed the battery in 2021. It currently protects energy infrastructure in Yanbu on the Red Sea coast.

Official images from the Saudi press agency showed the physical toll of the strikes. One building had part of its upper facade destroyed, exposing metal rods. Large windows were shattered, with glass scattered across the pavement and part of the road.