Yemen Houthis claim missile strike on Riyadh airport

Yemen's Houthi rebels claimed that they launched a ballistic missile attack on King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh on Thursday. DW, Anadolu Ajansi, and Middle East Eye reported that the Houthis claimed the strike disrupted operations at the main international airport in the Saudi capital. DW reported that the rebels said the strike killed three people and injured several others, marking the third time this week that the group claimed to target the airport. [1][5][7]

The latest claim follows attacks in Yemen on Wednesday. Al Jazeera, the South China Morning Post, and France 24 reported that Yemen's Transport Ministry accused the Houthis of firing ballistic missiles and explosive-laden drones at Aden's international airport. Al Jazeera added that one missile hit the runway minutes before a flight from Cairo was scheduled to land. Al Jazeera and Daily Sabah also reported that Saudi forces intercepted a missile north of Riyadh on Wednesday. [2][3][4][8]

The Houthis, officially known as Ansar Allah, are a Shia Islamist political and paramilitary organisation backed by Iran. The group launched an offensive against the Saudi-backed Presidential Leadership Council, the internationally recognised government of Yemen, on 3 September 2026. [9][10]

Cross-border attacks have escalated in recent days. As FTMQ News reported earlier, the Houthis previously claimed strikes on Riyadh's airport and an Aramco facility, while Yemeni government forces claimed to have recaptured the port city of Mocha and areas around the Bab al-Mandab strait. [12]