Key facts
- Saudi Arabia intercepted Houthi ballistic missiles aimed at its Southern Region.
- The Houthis claimed responsibility for the missile attack, targeting Abha airport.
- Qatar condemned the Houthi attack, affirming support for Saudi Arabia.
- The Houthis stated their missile attack was in response to Saudi strikes on Sanaa airport.
- The Yemeni government claimed responsibility for the strikes on Sanaa airport.
- The Houthis announced they shot down a Saudi surveillance aircraft over Al-Bayda Governorate.
Saudi Arabia's coalition forces intercepted ballistic missiles fired by Yemen's Houthi rebels, which the group claimed were aimed at Abha airport. This incident marks a significant escalation and breaks a period of relative calm in the region. The Houthis stated their missile attack was in response to Saudi strikes on Sanaa airport.
Qatar has strongly condemned the Houthi missile attack on Saudi Arabia's southern region, describing it as a violation of the kingdom’s sovereignty and territorial integrity and a threat to regional security. In a statement, Qatar’s foreign ministry reiterated its full support for Saudi Arabia and stressed that attacks targeting the kingdom undermine stability in the Gulf.
The conflict in Yemen has devastated the country since 2014, with over 150,000 people estimated to have died and more than 22 million requiring aid, according to the UN. The Yemeni government claimed responsibility for the strikes on Sanaa's airport, stating they were carried out to prevent an Iranian plane from landing, amid a dispute over a Houthi delegation's return from Iran.
The UN Security Council expressed concern about the strikes, with Assistant Secretary General Khaled Khiari stating that the region cannot afford another cycle of escalation and calling for constructive engagement in negotiations.
Yemen’s armed group, the Houthis, said on Tuesday that they shot down a Saudi Arabian surveillance aircraft while it was carrying out hostile missions over Al-Bayda Governorate.