Yemen's Houthis attack Aden airport as Saudi forces intercept missile near Riyadh

Yemen's internationally recognised government says Houthi missiles and drones targeted Aden International Airport, forcing the diversion of a passenger flight from Cairo and the evacuation of the terminal. The airport, which serves as the main international gateway for areas outside Houthi control, was hit in an attack that the government said came close to causing a civilian disaster. Separately, Saudi Arabia said its forces intercepted a ballistic missile north of Riyadh.

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The Ministry of Transport said at least two ballistic missiles and several drones were used in the attack on the airport's runway and passenger terminal. It said one missile landed near the runway minutes before the incoming flight from Cairo was due to land, prompting officials to cancel the landing and divert the aircraft to Jeddah. The ministry also said two planes were removed from the tarmac during the attack, while the terminal was evacuated.

The government described the incident as a serious threat to civilian aviation and said it could have turned into a humanitarian disaster. The Houthis said they had targeted what they described as Saudi military supplies at the Badr camp near the airport. In a separate statement, the Saudi-led coalition said it intercepted and destroyed a ballistic missile launched by the Houthis north of Riyadh, and said it was tracking the launch platform in Sanaa.

The attacks underline the continuing risk to transport infrastructure in the Yemen conflict and the wider regional spillover from the fighting. Aden airport has taken on added importance since the Houthis seized the capital, Sanaa, in 2014 and the government shifted its seat to Aden. Any strike near the airport raises concerns not only for military escalation but also for the safety of civilian flights and the movement of people and goods.

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The latest incidents also come against a backdrop of intensified fighting in Yemen and rising regional tensions. The Saudi-backed government forces have launched a counteroffensive against the Houthis to retake the Red Sea port of Mocha and areas around the Bab al-Mandeb strait. Saudi Arabia continues to back Yemen's government, while the Houthis have repeatedly claimed attacks on airports in Saudi cities including Riyadh and Abha.

What remains unclear is the full extent of the damage at Aden airport and whether any injuries were caused. It is also not yet clear how long the airport disruption will last or whether further retaliatory strikes will follow. The next developments to watch are any official damage assessments, updates on flight operations, and whether the missile interception near Riyadh leads to a broader response.

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