The Yemeni group says it struck multiple \u201csensitive sites\u201d across Saudi Arabia with missiles and drones<\/p>\n
Yemen\u2019s Houthis have claimed a direct missile strike on Riyadh\u2019s main international airport as part of a large-scale barrage targeting airports, military bases and oil infrastructure across Saudi Arabia.
\nHouthi military spokesman Yahya Saree said on Monday night that the group had carried out three operations using \u201ca large number\u201d of ballistic and cruise missiles and drones in response to intensified Saudi-backed strikes on Yemen.
\nThe first attack targeted King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh and achieved a \u201cdirect and precise hit,\u201d Saree claimed, saying air traffic was disrupted. The second targeted Saudi Aramco\u2019s refinery in Rabigh, where the group claimed a direct hit started fires. The third operation\u00a0allegedly targeted Abha Airport, Khamis Mushait air base, the Aqeefah military camp and other \u201csensitive sites\u201d in Najran and Jizan.
\nSaudi authorities have not addressed the specific claims of direct hits on the airport and refinery or said whether Houthi strikes caused disruption at King Khalid. The Foreign Ministry issued a broader statement condemning continued Houthi attacks on Riyadh and several other Saudi cities and \u201ccivilian and economic facilities,\u201d while reiterating the kingdom\u2019s right to respond.<\/p>\n
#Statement | The Foreign Ministry expresses the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia\u2019s strongest condemnation and denunciation of the terrorist Houthi militia\u2019s continued targeting of civilians and civilian and economic facilities in the Kingdom; its blatant and repeated attacks against the holiest sites on earth\u2014Makkah and Madinah\u2014 the capital Riyadh, and the cities of Abha, Khamis Mushait, Jazan, Najran, Taif, and Yanbu; and its targeting of Saudi vessels in the southern Red Sea and the Bab al-Mandab Strait.\u2014 Foreign Ministry \ud83c\uddf8\ud83c\udde6 (@KSAmofaEN) October 5, 2026<\/p>\n
Loud explosions were reportedly heard in northern Riyadh near King Khalid airport. An AFP journalist reported hearing a \u201cpowerful explosion,\u201d while residents said blasts shook windows in the area.<\/p>\n
Read more<\/p>\n
\u2018Muslim NATO\u2019 activates force deployment over Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia<\/p>\n
Saudi Arabia\u2019s Interior Ministry has meanwhile renewed a warning that photographing, publishing or circulating information about missile and drone interception operations or impact sites could result in legal action. The same warning was originally issued earlier in the war. Saudi media republished it shortly after midnight amid the latest attacks.
\nThe Houthis also warned international airlines against using Saudi airspace, declaring it a theater of military operations while exempting the airspace over Mecca and Medina. King Khalid airport remained operational, but Flightradar24 data showed substantial delays, with average delays reaching 38 minutes.
\nThe group said the barrage was retaliation for 60 Saudi air and missile strikes on Sanaa and the provinces of Al-Jawf, Taiz, Hodeidah, Saada and Marib over the previous 24 hours, which it said caused civilian casualties. Saree claimed Saudi forces had carried out 1,576 strikes since the latest escalation began.<\/p>\n
Read more<\/p>\n
Houthis claim new gains as Yemeni troops launch major offensive (VIDEOS)<\/p>\n
The exchange comes as Saudi Arabia and its Yemeni allies intensify a major counteroffensive against the Houthis. The Saudi-led coalition says about 100 fighter jets are providing round-the-clock air support as government forces attempt to retake territory lost along Yemen\u2019s Red Sea coast and around the strategic Bab al-Mandeb Strait. The coalition claims to have destroyed 324 \u201chigh-value\u201d Houthi targets.
\nSaudi-backed forces said on Monday that they had recaptured Dhubab and the nearby towns of Bab and Hadeid, with witnesses telling AP they saw government tanks and troops entering the towns. The Houthis have denied reports of a broader retreat, while fighting has also intensified around Taiz.
\nThe US is also assisting the Saudi campaign with intelligence sharing, target identification and operational planning, American and regional officials told AP. The US Embassy in Riyadh has meanwhile warned Americans to remain vigilant for possible missile and drone attacks.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
The Yemeni group says it struck multiple \u201csensitive sites\u201d across Saudi Arabia with missiles and drones Yemen\u2019s Houthis have claimed a direct missile strike on Riyadh\u2019s main international airport as…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":39394,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"rop_custom_images_group":[],"rop_custom_messages_group":[],"rop_publish_now":"initial","rop_publish_now_accounts":[],"rop_publish_now_history":[],"rop_publish_now_status":"pending","footnotes":""},"categories":[4,6,3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-39393","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-economy","category-environment","category-politics"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t