Aden International Airport has reportedly come under a direct attack as the armed conflict in Yemen escalates significantly. According to the Yemeni Ministry of Transport, Houthi rebels utilized ballistic missiles and explosive-laden drones to target the critical aviation hub, which serves as the primary international gateway outside of insurgent control.
Officials stated that a missile landed perilously close to the airport runway mere minutes before a scheduled flight from Cairo was set to touch down, forcing the aircraft to divert to Jeddah. In response to the imminent danger and fears of subsequent strikes, two planes stationed on the tarmac were swiftly relocated to a safer sector, transport authorities noted.
Meanwhile, Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree purportedly claimed that the group had also launched drone strikes against King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh. However, Saudi authorities did not immediately corroborate claims of an attack on the capital's aviation facility. Concurrently, the Saudi-led coalition announced it had successfully intercepted and destroyed another ballistic missile north of Riyadh.
These hostile actions unfold amid a broader intensification of combat operations across multiple fronts in Yemen. While Saudi-backed forces have attempted counteroffensives along the Red Sea coast, the persistent security failures and infrastructure targeting continue to inflict severe economic and geopolitical tolls on the war-torn nation.
Source: www.dw.com