Houthis say they struck targets across Saudi Arabia; coalition claims Red Sea gains
Version 2: The update adds the Saudi-led coalition's account of retaking Red Sea areas, its spokesman's figures on aircraft and destroyed targets, the Houthis' claim to have seized Turbah while advancing on Taiz, a reported death toll of more than 70 in a day, and the U.S. role, which the earlier version did not carry.
In short
Yemen's Houthi movement said it fired missiles and drones at airports, oil and military sites across Saudi Arabia, naming Riyadh's King Khalid International Airport and an Aramco refinery at Rabigh, and warned international airlines to stop using Saudi airspace. Explosions were heard in Riyadh, though a strike on the airport was not confirmed. A Saudi-led coalition said it retook Red Sea areas from the Houthis, who denied the claim, and more than 70 people were reported killed in a day of fighting around Taiz.
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Yemen's Houthi movement said it carried out missile and drone attacks on targets across Saudi Arabia, including the capital's King Khalid International Airport. Houthi spokesman Brig. Gen. Yahya Saree said in a statement dated the 5th local time that the group conducted three operations using multiple ballistic missiles, cruise missiles and drones. Newsis and Hankook Ilbo both reported the announcement, and Chosun Ilbo carried it in a summary. [ 2 , 4 , 6 , 7 ]
The targets named by the Houthis were King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, an Aramco refinery at Rabigh on the Red Sea coast, Abha airport in the south, Khamis Mushait air base and an Akifa military base in Asir near the Yemen border. The group also said it attacked key facilities in Najran and Jizan. Hankook Ilbo reported the Houthis warned all international airlines using Saudi airspace not to continue flights, saying Saudi airspace apart from Mecca and Medina is “our military operation zone.” [ 4 , 6 ]
Explosions were heard in Riyadh after the announcement, according to Kukmin Ilbo, Newsis and AFP, whose correspondent and residents reported strong blasts in northern Riyadh and near King Khalid International Airport. Hankook Ilbo said it was not confirmed whether the airport was hit, and Newsis said there was no direct confirmation of damage from Saudi authorities. [ 1 , 3 , 4 , 6 ]
Saudi Arabia's foreign ministry condemned what it called continued attacks by the “Houthi terrorist group” on civilians and civilian and economic facilities, saying strikes targeted Riyadh, Abha, Najran, Yanbu and Khamis Mushait. It said the kingdom would take all measures needed under international law to protect its territory and people and reaffirmed full political and military support for Yemen's government. Saree said the attacks were retaliation for 60 Saudi airstrikes and missile attacks in the previous 24 hours against Sanaa and the Marib, Haja, Saada and Al Jawf governorates. [ 4 , 6 ]
In Yemen, the Saudi-led coalition said it had retaken areas north of the Bab el-Mandeb strait, including Dubab, Bab and Hodeidah, according to Yonhap and Chosun Ilbo. Coalition spokesman Maj. Gen. Turki al-Maliki said 100 aircraft were supporting the coalition, which had secured air defence over the strait and destroyed hundreds of Houthi targets, including weapons depots and sea mine storage. Newsis reported the coalition's claim that it had broken a Houthi attempt to close the Red Sea route. [ 5 , 6 , 7 ]
The Houthis said they seized the government-held stronghold of Turbah while advancing on Taiz, Yemen's third-largest city, and a local police source said Houthi forces had cut main roads in the al-Safiya area, according to Yonhap. AFP reported that more than 70 people were killed in a day of fighting around Taiz. Reuters said it could not confirm the extent of the government forces' advance, and the Houthis denied their claim, Hankook Ilbo reported. [ 4 , 5 ]
Yonhap reported it was believed the United States is supporting the coalition indirectly, including by providing intelligence, rather than through direct military participation. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, asked whether the coalition had coordinated military operations with Washington, referred only to a defence agreement between the United States and Saudi Arabia and did not give details. [ 5 ]
Why it matters
The exchange opens a direct challenge to Saudi airspace and infrastructure, including an airport and refinery named by the Houthis, while the coalition's reported advances around the Bab el-Mandeb strait point to fighting over a key shipping route. The warning to international airlines, if acted on, could affect carriers routing through Saudi airspace, and both sides are describing their operations as responses to the other's escalation.
Key facts
- Houthi spokesman Brig. Gen. Yahya Saree said the group carried out three operations using ballistic and cruise missiles and drones against targets across Saudi Arabia. [ 2 , 4 , 6 ]
- The Houthis named King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, an Aramco refinery at Rabigh, Abha airport, Khamis Mushait air base and an Akifa military base in Asir as targets, and said facilities in Najran and Jizan were also hit. [ 4 , 6 ]
- Explosions were heard in Riyadh, including near King Khalid International Airport, but whether the airport was hit was not confirmed. [ 1 , 3 , 4 , 6 ]
- The Houthis warned all international airlines to stop flying through Saudi airspace, calling all Saudi airspace except Mecca and Medina an operation zone. [ 4 , 6 ]
- Saudi Arabia's foreign ministry condemned the attacks on civilians and civilian and economic facilities and said it would take all measures needed under international law, reaffirming political and military support for Yemen's government. [ 4 ]
- Saree said the attacks were retaliation for 60 Saudi airstrikes and missile attacks on Sanaa and the Marib, Haja, Saada and Al Jawf governorates in the previous 24 hours. [ 4 , 6 ]
- A Saudi-led coalition spokesman said 100 aircraft were supporting the coalition, which had secured air defence over the Bab el-Mandeb strait and destroyed hundreds of Houthi targets. [ 5 , 6 ]
- AFP reported that more than 70 people were killed in a day of fighting around Taiz. [ 5 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- The Houthis announced missile and drone attacks on airports, oil and military sites across Saudi Arabia. [ 2 , 4 , 6 , 7 ]
- Explosions were heard in Riyadh after the Houthi announcement. [ 1 , 3 , 4 , 6 ]
- A Saudi-led coalition said it retook Red Sea areas from the Houthis. [ 5 , 7 ]
- The Houthis said the attacks were retaliation for Saudi strikes on Yemen in the previous 24 hours. [ 4 , 6 ]
Still unclear
- Whether King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh was actually struck. The Hankook Ilbo report says residents near the airport heard explosions but that an airport strike was not confirmed, and Newsis reported no direct confirmation from Saudi authorities.
- The extent of the claimed operations and the targets actually hit. The target list comes from the Houthis' own statement, which two outlets reported but no outlet confirmed independently.
- The real extent of the advance by Saudi-backed Yemeni government forces near Bab el-Mandeb and Mocha. Reuters, cited by Hankook Ilbo, could not confirm the advance and the Houthis denied the government forces' claim.
- Casualties or damage from the attacks inside Saudi Arabia. No document reports casualty or damage figures for the Saudi targets.
- The number killed around Taiz. The figure of more than 70 dead in a day is attributed to AFP in a single document.
- The scale of U.S. involvement. Yonhap reports it is believed the United States is supporting the coalition indirectly with intelligence rather than direct military participation, and that Secretary of State Marco Rubio would only say a defence agreement exists between Washington and Riyadh.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- Kukmin Ilbo reports on its breaking-news feed that repeated explosions were heard in Riyadh after the Houthis announced airstrikes. [ 1 ]
- Newsis reports that Yemen's Houthi forces announced missile and drone strikes across Saudi Arabia. [ 2 ]
- Newsis reports that explosions continued to be heard in Riyadh. [ 3 ]
- Hankook Ilbo reports the named targets, the warning to international airlines, the Saudi foreign ministry condemnation and the claim by Saudi-backed Yemeni government forces of an advance near Bab el-Mandeb. [ 4 ]
- Yonhap reports that the Saudi-led coalition retook areas north of the Bab el-Mandeb strait and that more than 70 people were killed in a day of fighting around Taiz. [ 5 ]
- Newsis reports the coalition's claim that it broke a Houthi attempt to close Red Sea shipping routes. [ 6 ]
- Chosun Ilbo reports the coalition's recapture of Dubab, Bab and Hodeidah and the Houthi strikes on Saudi airports and refinery facilities. [ 7 ]
- Seoul Shinmun reports on the Houthi retaliation for 60 strikes in 24 hours and the coalition's counter-claim of victory in the Red Sea. [ 8 ]