Coalition reports destruction of nine Houthi sites
Saudi forces claim to have eliminated four launchers and five tunnels as airport operations resume.
By Samuel Peterson ·
Coalition forces destroyed four ballistic missile launchers and five storage tunnels in Yemen on Monday, according to spokesman Turki al-Maliki. The operation also targeted a missile depot and fortifications along the front lines. Al-Maliki stated the strikes aimed to neutralize threat sources and cut off supply lines between Houthi-controlled areas.
The military action follows a deadly wave of attacks by the Houthis, also known as Ansar Allah. Last month, a ballistic missile struck King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh. The impact killed 13 people and wounded more than 300 others. It was the deadliest attack on Saudi territory in over a decade.
The airport closed temporarily after the strike. The disruption forced the postponement of Saudi Arabia's flagship investment conference to 2027. Flights resumed on Sunday. The Houthis warned travelers to avoid the facility, describing it as a military target.
Yemen's conflict reignited this summer when the Houthis announced a maritime blockade on Saudi Arabia. The war began in 2015 when Saudi forces intervened to support the internationally recognized government against the Houthis, who had seized Sanaa in 2014. A truce signed in 2022 collapsed last month. The Houthis launched a rapid offensive to seize much of the Red Sea coast.
Government forces launched Operation Yemen Dawn this month to recapture territory. On Monday, Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree claimed the group attacked the Riyadh airport with a precision ballistic missile. Al-Maliki countered that Saudi air defenses intercepted and destroyed the missile. Saree also claimed drone strikes on oil pumping stations in Saudi Arabia and ballistic missile attacks on forces in the Salah al-Din and al-Wahat areas.
As operations resumed at the airport, Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis met with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. The two discussed the Patriot air defense system. A Greek office statement said Mitsotakis agreed to keep a US-made Patriot battery in Saudi Arabia. The system, deployed in 2021, protects energy infrastructure in Yanbu on the Red Sea coast.
Saudi air defenses intercepted at least 10 ballistic missiles on Sunday. The civil defence agency reported two people were injured in the south by falling debris. The agency also noted damage to several buildings and vehicles. Official images showed a building with a destroyed upper facade and exposed metal rods. Other photos captured shattered windows with glass shards strewn across the pavement and road.
Source: Al Jazeera
