Saudi Arabia reported three injuries and material damage after Houthi rebels attacked airports in Najran and Jizan on October 6, 2026, as tensions in Yemen’s civil war intensify.
Saudi Arabia’s General Authority of Civil Aviation confirmed that airports in Najran and Jizan were targeted in attacks on Monday, resulting in three people sustaining minor injuries and infrastructure damage. The Houthi rebels, an Iran-backed group, claimed responsibility for the strikes, which occurred amid a broader escalation of hostilities in Yemen. The Saudi-led coalition responded by intercepting a ballistic missile and launching air strikes against Houthi positions, according to reports.
Houthi Claims and Saudi Response
The Houthi rebels stated they launched missiles and drones at Saudi airports and military sites, with Houthi Brig. Gen. Yahya Saree asserting they targeted a third airport on Tuesday. Saudi authorities did not immediately confirm this claim but acknowledged the attacks on Najran and Jizan airports. A statement from the Saudi Civil Aviation Authority noted that specialised teams dealt with the attacks immediately upon their occurrence,
while emphasizing that the damage was material.
Saudi Arabia’s General Authority of Civil Aviation reported that airports in Najran and Jizan were targeted on Monday, causing damage to both facilities and resulting in three individuals sustaining minor injuries. The statement did not identify the perpetrators but came after the Houthis declared attacks on Saudi oil facilities, airports, and military bases on Monday. The Houthi group, also known as Ansar Allah, claimed responsibility for the strikes, stating they targeted sites across southern Saudi Arabia.
Broader Conflict Context
The attacks occur amid heightened combat in Yemen, where troops supporting the internationally recognized government, with Saudi Arabia’s backing, are engaged in combat with the Houthis. The Yemeni government-aligned forces have seen progress, including the recapture of the port city of Mocha on the Red Sea and control over the strategic Bab al-Mandeb strait.
The Saudi-led coalition has affirmed its involvement in the Yemeni government’s campaign, stating that 100 of its fighter jets are offering aerial support. The coalition also reported destroying a ballistic missile launch platform in Yemen’s capital Sanaa and a storage facility in Saada that had 20 ballistic missiles, according to the official Saudi Press Agency.
Fernando Carvajal, a former United Nations Security Council adviser on Yemen, highlighted the strategic importance of Mocha, noting that government forces must prove that they can hold on to the city, which is surrounded by Houthis from all three sides
before using it as a staging point. Meanwhile, the Houthis continue to launch cross-border attacks, with Saudi Arabia’s Civil Aviation Authority reporting that it will continue to assess the damage and is taking measures to protect passengers and staff.
International Reactions and Implications
The attacks on Saudi airports have further strained regional alliances. Saudi Arabia, which has long been a central player in the Yemen conflict, faces mounting pressure to protect its territory while supporting the Yemeni government.
As the situation unfolds, the focus remains on the humanitarian impact and the potential for wider regional conflict. Displaced families arriving at Al-Salam camp in Aden’s Dar Sad district face shortages of water, bedding and other basic necessities, reflecting the broader suffering caused by years of war. The international community continues to grapple with how to address the crisis without exacerbating an already volatile situation.
The Houthi leader’s statement, displayed on a billboard in Sanaa, Yemen, reads: The Saudi accusation against our people deserves to be described as the lie of the century.
Meanwhile, Saudi officials have maintained that the attacks are part of a broader pattern of aggression by the Houthis, who have repeatedly targeted civilian and economic infrastructure in the kingdom.
The Saudi-led coalition in Yemen stated it intercepted and neutralized a ballistic missile fired by the Houthis aimed at Khamis Mushait, a city in southwestern Saudi Arabia housing a significant Saudi military installation.