The key facts

  • The Houthis, via spokesman Yahya Saree, claimed attacks on targets in Saudi Arabia over 48 hours
  • Targets named include King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, Abha airport, the Shaybah oil field and the Khamis Mushait base
  • Saudi authorities did not comment on the claims; the conflict has escalated since July

Houthi statement

The Yemeni Houthi group said on Monday that over the past 48 hours it had attacked a number of targets in Saudi Arabia. According to the group's official spokesman Yahya Saree, in a statement distributed via Telegram, the strikes were carried out with ballistic and cruise missiles as well as drones. Saree called the attacks a response to 'Saudi aggression against our country'.

Targets named

The Houthi spokesman said the group attacked the Shaybah oil field, King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh and Abha International Airport. According to him, 'the radars of the Saudi enemy in Jabal al-Hisn and Jabal al-Rahma, as well as the Khamis Mushait airbase, were also attacked in three stages'.

Reaction and context

There was no immediate reaction from the Saudi authorities to the Houthi claims. The escalation comes amid intensifying fighting between the Houthis and forces loyal to the internationally recognized government of Yemen, which are backed by the Saudi Arabia-led coalition. The conflict in Yemen has continued since 2014, when the Houthis seized the capital Sanaa and most of the country's north. According to the agency, fighting has intensified since July and spilled over into neighboring Saudi Arabia, which the Houthis have repeatedly attacked.