The key facts
- Yemen's army: Houthis attacked Al-Rayyan Airport in Mukalla for the fourth time within hours
- On Wednesday the airport was hit by three drones — the first attack since July, according to an Anadolu correspondent
- State-run Saba reported a missile strike on Aden airport; the Houthis did not comment on the attack
Fourth attack within hours
Yemen's army reported on Thursday morning that the Houthi group attacked Al-Rayyan International Airport in the city of Mukalla, the capital of Hadhramaut province, for the fourth time within hours. Army spokesman Major General Majed Al-Nuzaili called the group the 'terrorist Houthi militia' and said the strikes on airports are aimed at imposing a blockade on the Yemeni people. His remarks were carried by September Net, a website affiliated with Yemen's Ministry of Defense.
The airport's importance and previous strikes
Al-Rayyan is one of Yemen's most important civilian airports, serving millions of residents of Hadhramaut and other provinces. On Wednesday, the Houthis attacked the airport with three drones. According to an Anadolu correspondent, it was the first attack on the airport since the military escalation resumed in July. The Houthis did not comment on the attack.
Strike on Aden airport
The state-run Saba TV channel also reported that the Houthis attacked Aden International Airport in southern Yemen with a ballistic missile, without providing details. Local residents told Anadolu they heard a loud explosion near the airport.
Context of the conflict
The events come amid the ongoing offensive by Yemen's internationally recognized government against the Houthis in the southwest of the country. The conflict has continued since September 2014, when the Houthis seized the capital Sanaa and a number of other provinces, prompting the Saudi Arabia-led coalition to intervene in March 2015 in support of the recognized government.
