Yemen's transport ministry said a missile landed near the Aden runway minutes before a flight from Cairo, which was diverted to Jeddah.
Yemen's Houthis attacked Aden International Airport with ballistic missiles and explosive-laden drones on Wednesday, the country's transport ministry said, Reuters reported. One missile landed near the runway minutes before a flight from Cairo was due to land. Authorities cancelled the landing, diverted the aircraft to Jeddah, and moved two planes off the runway area.
Aden is the main international gateway for parts of Yemen outside Houthi control. The Houthis said they had targeted Saudi military supplies arriving at the Badr camp near the airport, Al Jazeera reported. There was no immediate Houthi comment in the Reuters account of the runway strike.
The Saudi-led coalition said it intercepted a Houthi ballistic missile north of Riyadh and another toward Khamis Mushait. Houthi spokesman Yahya Saree said the group targeted King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh with drones, and separately Abha airport and an airbase in Khamis Mushait. Saudi authorities did not immediately confirm those airport claims.
Fighting has focused on the Bab el-Mandeb approaches and Mocha, a spillover of the wider US-Iran war, Reuters said. The International Organization for Migration said more than 200,000 people have been displaced since the latest round began, up from 76,000 in mid-September. Director General Amy Pope said people were running for their lives and finding nowhere safe to go.
Pro-government forces with Saudi-led air support are trying to reverse September Houthi gains near the strait. Researcher Hussam Radman of the Sanaa Center said control of the highlands east of Dhubab would open the coast. It is unclear whether the advance will hold.
People Sentiments Negative
- Amy Pope said people are running for their lives and finding nowhere safe to go.
- Yemen's transport ministry said it diverted the Cairo flight to protect passengers.
- Yahya Saree said the Houthis targeted King Khalid International Airport; Saudi authorities did not immediately confirm that claim.