Coalition Forces Strike Houthi Targets as Yemen Conflict Escalates
Coalition forces destroyed Houthi rocket platforms and launched airstrikes on Sanaa following Houthi missile attacks on Saudi airports and a thwarted aircraft suicide attempt.
A Saudi-led coalition and the Government of Yemen launched a series of military operations against Houthi militia targets on October 9, 2026. Coalition forces destroyed three rocket launch platforms, while warplanes conducted airstrikes across the Houthi-held capital of Sanaa. These actions followed Houthi missile strikes on King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh that killed three people, including a pilot.
On the ground, Yemeni government forces seized control of Mayun and the strategic Bab al-Mandab Strait. An offensive launched from the Dhubab district in Taiz province resulted in conflicting casualty reports; government officials claimed dozens of Houthi fighters were killed, while Houthi-run al-Masirah TV asserted that their forces repelled the advance and inflicted dozens of government casualties.
In a separate security incident, United Arab Emirates prosecutors revealed that an Omani co-pilot, Hamam al-Hammami, attempted to crash a flydubai jet into Tel Aviv's international airport. The suspect allegedly attacked Captain Smit Machchhar with an emergency axe but was thwarted by the crew and passengers. The aircraft made an emergency landing at Tabuk Airport in Saudi Arabia. Prosecutors stated al-Hammami was radicalized in Australia and intended to emulate the September 11 attacks.
