Houthis Strike Saudi Infrastructure as Coalition Destroys Missile Depots

The Houthi group launched a series of missile and drone strikes against Saudi Arabian targets on October 5, including King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, Abha International Airport, and an Aramco refinery in Rabigh. Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Sarea stated the attacks were retaliation for 60 Saudi air and missile strikes conducted over the preceding 24 hours. Saudi authorities did not immediately confirm the strikes or the reported fire at the Rabigh refinery.

In response, the Saudi-led coalition conducted a series of military operations across Yemen to thwart imminent attacks on waterways in the southern Red Sea. Coalition forces first targeted weapons depots, naval mines, and explosive-laden boat storage in Hodeidah province. These operations expanded on Tuesday to include the destruction of a launch site in Sanaa and a ballistic missile depot containing 20 missiles in northwestern Saada province.

Coalition spokesperson Turki Al-Maliki stated these strikes foiled Houthi preparations to attack Red Sea maritime routes. This surge in violence follows the July collapse of a 2022 UN-brokered truce in a conflict that began in 2014 when Houthi forces seized Sanaa.