Sanaa, September 14 (Daily Kiran) : Houthi rebels claimed responsibility for a significant missile and drone attack on a major military airbase in southwestern Saudi Arabia on Monday. This incident is viewed as a substantial escalation in military confrontations amid rising tensions in the region.
In a statement broadcasted on Al-Masirah TV, a channel operated by the Houthi group, military spokesperson Yahya Saree announced that they targeted King Khalid Airbase, located in Khamis Mushait, near the Yemeni border. The attack reportedly involved dozens of ballistic missiles and drones.
Saree asserted that the assault aimed at various military installations, including fighter jet hangars, radar systems, runways, and ammunition depots. He claimed the strikes were “precise and direct,” resulting in significant damage to the airbase. However, Saudi officials have yet to respond to these claims, and there is no official information regarding potential casualties or damage.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen condemned the Houthi attacks, expressing solidarity with Gulf partners. On the social media platform X, she stated, “I condemn the Houthi attacks against Saudi Arabia. We stand united with our Gulf partners amid ongoing assaults.”
She emphasized that the European Union would continue to work with partners to ensure safe and uninterrupted navigation in the Strait of Hormuz and to promote stability in the Middle East, highlighting that regional stability benefits everyone.
Saree claimed that this operation was a response to Saudi airstrikes in Yemen, alleging that Saudi F-15 and Typhoon fighter jets had conducted over 300 air raids across several Yemeni provinces in recent days. He warned that as long as airstrikes continue, the Houthis would carry out attacks deep within Saudi territory, stating that any further military escalation would be met with a broader military campaign.
This announcement comes as the Houthi rebels have been conducting a large-scale military operation since September 3. They have rapidly shifted frontlines along the Red Sea coast, claiming control over several government-held areas in the provinces of Al-Hudaydah and southwestern Taiz.
After capturing the strategic port city of Mocha, the Houthi group advanced southward, entering the Bab al-Mandab Strait area and seizing control of the island of Mayyun, further strengthening their grip on this crucial maritime route connecting the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden.
Following their gains in the region, the Houthi group stated that international navigation through the strait remains “free, safe, and smooth,” while reiterating their stance on keeping Saudi vessels out of this arrangement under the maritime restrictions imposed since July 20.
The conflict in Yemen began in late 2014 when Houthi rebels seized control of Sana’a and large parts of northern Yemen. In March 2015, a Saudi-led coalition intervened militarily to support the internationally recognized Yemeni government.
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