What Is Behind the Latest Missile Attack on Yemen’s Aden?
News Desk
SANA’A: Yemen’s internationally recognised government has accused the Houthi group of launching a ballistic missile at the southern port city of Aden, while the Houthis have claimed responsibility for targeting a naval base and the Al-Nasr camp, reportedly under Saudi military supervision.
The reported attack comes amid claims of deadly airstrikes in Yemen and missile interceptions in Saudi Arabia, raising concerns about a possible escalation of hostilities across the region.
According to Qatar-based broadcaster Al Jazeera, four explosions were heard in Aden, with initial reports indicating that the blasts occurred near Aden International Airport. The cause of the explosions and details of any casualties were not immediately confirmed.
Yemen’s Ministry of Information accused the Houthis of carrying out the missile strike. The group’s military spokesperson, Yahya Saree, later said Houthi forces had targeted the Al-Nasr camp and a naval facility in Aden, where Saudi forces reportedly maintain a presence.
Aden serves as the interim seat of Yemen’s internationally recognised government, which receives support from Saudi Arabia.
Citing the state news agency Saba, Yemen’s Interior Ministry said the attack targeted the Coast Guard headquarters and another facility belonging to the force. However, the ministry did not refer to a strike on a military base near the airport.
Houthis Report Civilian Casualties
Meanwhile, the Houthi-run Al-Masirah television channel reported civilian deaths in alleged Saudi-led airstrikes in the capital, Sanaa, and the Red Sea coastal city of Hodeidah. The reported casualties have not been independently verified.
According to the channel, at least four people were killed and several others injured when an airstrike hit a house in Sanaa. In a separate attack on a residential building housing cement factory workers in Sanaa Governorate, six women and one child were reportedly killed, while three other people sustained injuries.
Al-Masirah also reported that five members of a family died when their home in Hodeidah was struck. The victims were identified as the family’s head, his two children and his two wives.
The Houthis blamed Saudi Arabia for the reported attacks.
Two Missiles Intercepted
The Saudi-led military coalition said it had intercepted two missiles fired towards the western Saudi cities of Taif and Yanbu.
Saudi Arabia’s Civil Defense initially issued a warning about a potential threat to western areas, including Taif, Yanbu and Makkah, before withdrawing the alert a few minutes later. Residents were advised to move to the nearest safe location while the warning remained in effect.
Authorities also cautioned the public against circulating images or information related to operations involving missile and drone interceptions.
The reported interceptions come amid growing concerns over alleged Houthi attacks targeting Saudi territory, including oil infrastructure and airports.
Yanbu, situated on Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea coast, is a major oil export centre that provides an alternative route for crude shipments if maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz is disrupted.
Reports cited in the supplied material also alleged that an attack on an airport in Riyadh earlier this month killed 13 people and injured dozens. These figures have not been independently verified.
Earlier this week, the United States reportedly directed non-essential personnel at its embassy in Saudi Arabia, along with their family members, to leave the country amid concerns about possible Houthi attacks.
Fighting Raises Security Concerns
The conflict between the Houthis and Yemen’s internationally recognised, Saudi-backed government had largely eased following a ceasefire in 2022. However, reports of renewed fighting in July, against the backdrop of wider Middle East hostilities, have raised concerns about further instability.
The supplied reports also claim that the Houthis captured the entire Red Sea coastal region during a rapid offensive last month. The reported territorial gains and their alleged impact on oil markets require independent confirmation.
A Saudi-led military coalition intervened in Yemen in 2015 to support the internationally recognised government against the Houthis. More than a decade of conflict has devastated the country’s infrastructure and contributed to one of the world’s most severe humanitarian crises.
Amid the latest developments, Egypt has reportedly proposed deploying troops to assist in Saudi Arabia’s defence, while the United Kingdom and France have offered military support to help protect the Gulf kingdom.
On Saturday, the US mission in the United Arab Emirates and the US Embassy in Riyadh updated their travel advisories, citing an increased risk of potential armed attacks by the Iranian-backed Houthi group.
The latest reports highlight the potential for renewed fighting in Yemen to intensify regional tensions, threaten critical energy infrastructure and disrupt strategically important maritime trade routes.
