Sanaa, Jul 14 (V7N)- Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi movement has claimed responsibility for a missile and drone attack on Saudi Arabia's Abha International Airport, marking a fresh escalation in the long-running conflict between the two sides.
According to the Houthis, the attack was carried out on Monday (July 13) in retaliation for a Saudi airstrike targeting Yemen's Sanaa International Airport earlier the same day.
The group alleged that the Saudi-led strike targeted facilities at the airport in the Yemeni capital.
So far, there have been no reports of casualties or significant damage resulting from the attack on Abha International Airport. Saudi authorities have not immediately commented on the incident.
Meanwhile, the internationally recognized Yemeni government said the operation at Sanaa International Airport was intended to prevent an Iranian aircraft from landing. Saudi Arabia has yet to issue an official statement regarding the claim.
In a video message published on Telegram, Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Saree urged international airlines to avoid Saudi airspace, warning that the advisory should remain in effect until restrictions on Sanaa International Airport are lifted.
The Houthis had earlier vowed retaliation following the reported strike on Sanaa Airport.
The United Nations has also expressed concern over the latest escalation. During an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council on Monday, UN Assistant Secretary-General for Political Affairs Khaled Khiari warned that neither Yemen nor the wider Middle East could afford another major round of conflict.
He called on all parties to return to UN-mediated negotiations and engage constructively in efforts to de-escalate the crisis.
Regional analysts warn that continued exchanges of attacks could further destabilize the Middle East, raising the risk of a broader conflict with implications for regional security and international stability.
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