File image.
Yemen’s Houthis (Ansar Allah) announced on October 24 that they had launched seven military operations targeting airports, oil facilities and military installations across Saudi Arabia, including in Riyadh, Yanbu and Dammam.
In a statement, Brig. Gen. Yahya Saree, the group’s military spokesman, said the operations involved ballistic missiles and drones and were launched in response to what he described as an intensifying Saudi air campaign against Yemen.
Saree said the first operation targeted King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh in two stages, claiming both strikes achieved accurate hits. The second targeted Saudi Aramco facilities in the Red Sea port city of Yanbu, while the third struck the Rabigh oil refinery, he added.
The fourth operation targeted crude oil pumping stations and the East-West oil pipeline, which transports crude from Saudi Arabia’s eastern oil-producing regions toward the Red Sea coast. Saree claimed that the operation achieved its objectives.
The remaining operations targeted King Fahd International Airport in Dammam, Najran Airport and the Khamis Mushait air base in southwestern Saudi Arabia. Saree said the strike on King Fahd airport disrupted air traffic, while the other attacks achieved direct hits.
Saudi authorities have reported an attack on King Fahd International Airport in Dammam that caused material damage and casualties, but have not confirmed the reported strikes on facilities in Riyadh and Yanbu.
Meanwhile, the Saudi-led coalition fighting in Yemen reported several interceptions during the day. Coalition spokesman Maj. Gen. Turki al-Maliki said air defenses intercepted and destroyed a ballistic missile heading toward Riyadh and a drone over the Eastern Province.
The coalition later announced that two ballistic missiles launched toward Taif and Yanbu had also been intercepted and destroyed.
Saudi civil defense authorities issued brief warnings of potential aerial threats in several areas, including Mecca, Jeddah, Taif and Yanbu, before announcing that the danger had passed.
A day earlier, the coalition also reported intercepting ballistic missiles aimed at Riyadh and Khamis Mushait, as well as two drones directed toward southern Saudi Arabia.
Saree accused Saudi Arabia of carrying out 100 airstrikes against what he described as civilian sites in Sanaa and other areas of Yemen over the preceding 24 hours, leaving dozens dead and wounded. He put the cumulative number of Saudi airstrikes and missile attacks since the latest escalation began at 3,123.
The spokesman said the operations against Saudi targets would continue until the attacks on Yemen stopped and the blockade was lifted.
“Our operations are continuing toward the Saudi depth, imposing the equation of blockade for blockade and escalation for escalation,” Saree said.
He added that the movement would continue targeting Saudi-backed military concentrations until the campaign against Yemen ended.
In an earlier statement, Saree said the Houthis had targeted Saudi-backed troop concentrations at al-Nasr camp and a naval base in Aden, alleging that Saudi officers were supervising the recruitment and preparation of forces for operations against Yemen’s armed forces. He named Saudi Brig. Gen. Badr Salah al-Harbi as leading the effort.
“We again urge those who have been misled not to respond to the Saudi enemy, which uses its tainted money to drive them into death traps to fight their own people,” Saree said, warning Yemeni fighters against joining forces aligned with Riyadh.
Three explosions were heard in Aden earlier. The extent of any damage or casualties was not immediately clear, however.
All in all, the Houthis continue to escalate strikes against Saudi Arabia and its allies while maintaining the upper hand on all fronts in Yemen. Despite all recent setbacks, however, the kingdom does not appear to be ready yet to take a step back.
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