The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia confirmed on Tuesday that two of its civilian air hubs – King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Airport in Jazan and the Najran Airport – were struck by projectiles on Monday evening. The Saudi Civil Aviation Authority said the attacks caused three minor injuries and material damage, and that emergency teams were dispatched immediately to treat the wounded and secure the facilities.
According to the authority’s statement, the injured individuals were taken to nearby hospitals for treatment, and specialised response units began assessing the structural impact on both airports. The agency stressed that it would continue to monitor the situation and implement additional safety measures for passengers and staff.
Houthi claim of responsibility and regional reaction
The armed movement known as the Houthis, or Ansar Allah announced late on Monday that its forces had targeted “strategic sites across southern Saudi Arabia,” explicitly naming the two airports. The statement framed the attacks as retaliation against Saudi involvement in the Yemeni war.
Gulf Cooperation Council Secretary-General Jassim al-Budaiwi condemned the strikes as a “dangerous escalation,” urging the international community to adopt a firm stance against attacks on civilian infrastructure. Kuwait’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs echoed the condemnation, labeling the Houthis as an Iran-aligned group that repeatedly targets civilian and economic facilities.
Escalation of the Yemen conflict and Saudi-led coalition actions
The airport attacks occurred against the backdrop of a broader intensification of hostilities in Yemen. Early Tuesday, the Saudi-led coalition announced that its forces had destroyed a ballistic-missile launch platform in the capital, Sanaa, a city under Houthi control since 2014. In addition, a storage site in Saada believed to house 20 ballistic missiles was reported eliminated by coalition airpower, according to the Saudi Press Agency.
These strikes were part of a coordinated counter-offensive launched by forces loyal to Yemen’s internationally recognised government. The operation aimed to reclaim territory seized by the Houthis in the previous month, beginning with the strategic Red Sea port of Mocha. Government forces reported taking Mocha and securing the nearby Bab al-Mandeb strait, a critical maritime chokepoint.
Saudi Arabia confirmed that approximately 100 of its fighter jets are providing air support to Yemeni government troops, while Saudi naval units have begun a separate operation targeting Houthi positions in the Hodeidah governorate.
Strategic importance of Mocha and Bab al-Mandeb
Former United Nations Security Council adviser on Yemen, Fernando Carvajal highlighted Mocha’s significance for the next phase of the conflict. He warned that the city remains encircled on three sides by Houthi forces, making its defence crucial before it can serve as a staging ground for further advances.
International security guarantees and deterrence measures
Following the airport incidents, Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Pakistan convened a defence committee that agreed to activate collective deterrence mechanisms under their mutual defence pact. Saudi Defence Minister Khalid bin Salman posted on social media that the alliance reaffirmed “solidarity and unity” in confronting the attacks on the Kingdom and on holy sites.
While the exact nature of the additional support remains ambiguous, analysts suggest that Pakistan may pursue diplomatic mediation between the warring parties, though the Houthis have historically preferred negotiations solely with Saudi representatives, potentially sidelining the Yemeni government.
