Houthis claim strikes on Saudi airport, airbase

The Houthi group in Yemen on Tuesday claimed responsibility for attacks targeting Abha International Airport and an airbase in southern Saudi Arabia, while the Saudi-led coalition reported intercepting a drone over the Makkah region.

Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree said the group had launched two separate operations. In a statement posted on X, he claimed that a drone had targeted Abha International Airport, disrupting air traffic following what he described as a precise strike.

He further claimed that a ballistic missile had directly hit Khamis Mushait Air Base. However, the claims were not independently verified.

In a separate development, the Saudi-led coalition announced that its forces had intercepted and destroyed a drone over the Makkah region. Coalition spokesman Turki al-Maliki confirmed the interception in a post on X but did not disclose whether the incident caused any casualties or damage.

However, Saree denied that the Houthis had launched any operation targeting Saudi territory on Tuesday, creating conflicting accounts of the reported attacks.

The latest developments come amid growing hostilities between Saudi Arabia and the Iran-aligned Houthi movement. Last week, the coalition reported intercepting a ballistic missile heading towards southern Saudi Arabia and a drone over the Riyadh region. It also announced the destruction of another drone over the Makkah region, a claim previously rejected by the Houthi spokesman.

On October 24, the coalition said it had intercepted two ballistic missiles fired towards Taif and Yanbu. Saudi authorities subsequently issued precautionary alerts in Makkah and Jeddah.

Meanwhile, diplomatic efforts are continuing to prevent the conflict from spreading further across the region.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said discussions between Tehran and Riyadh were ongoing as Iran sought to establish new regional security arrangements without foreign military involvement.

Last week, senior officials from Saudi Arabia, Turkiye and Pakistan held talks with Iranian officials in Tehran. The meeting marked the first high-level contact between the countries since August.

Saudi Arabia said the diplomatic engagement aimed to establish channels for negotiations and prevent another escalation of military hostilities.

Tensions have also increased around the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, a strategically important shipping route near Yemen. The Houthis have intensified their military activities in the area, raising concerns about regional trade and maritime security.

The wider conflict has also affected Saudi oil facilities and airports in previous attacks, disrupting aviation and energy exports. Saudi forces have responded with airstrikes against Houthi positions in Yemen.

Separately, diplomatic efforts between Iran and the United States remain underway. A senior Iranian official said mediators were working to narrow differences between the two sides after Qatari representatives travelled to Tehran for discussions on a proposed agreement.

The official said Iran wanted its conditions addressed before agreeing to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. Tehran also maintained that negotiations over its nuclear programme could only begin after an agreement on the maritime issue.