Yemen’s Houthis have claimed two drone attacks targeting an airport and an Aramco facility in Saudi Arabia’s Najran region….reports Asian Lite News Desk
Yemen’s Houthi group has claimed responsibility for two drone attacks targeting an airport and an oil facility in Saudi Arabia’s southern Najran region, escalating tensions between the Iran-aligned group and Riyadh.
Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Saree said the group launched two drone strikes, one targeting a “sensitive target” at Najran airport and the other an Aramco facility.
Saree claimed both attacks “achieved their objectives”, but provided no details on possible casualties or damage.
The Houthis said the strikes were carried out in response to what they described as Saudi drone incursions into the airspace over Yemen’s northern Saada province, a Houthi stronghold bordering Saudi Arabia, Xinhua News Agency reported.
There was no immediate response from Saudi authorities or Saudi state oil giant Aramco to the claims.
The latest attacks come as fighting between the Houthis and Yemen’s internationally recognised government forces continues to intensify across several fronts.
Yemeni government forces said they had conducted 81 military operations against Houthi positions over the previous 24 hours. Government forces spokesperson Majid al-Nuzaili said the operations targeted Houthi fighters and positions along multiple frontlines, killing or wounding several members, including field commanders.
Al-Nuzaili said the operations were carried out in response to repeated Houthi attacks on government forces and civilian infrastructure. The Houthis have not commented on the government’s claims.
On July 20, the Houthis announced a maritime ban on Saudi shipping, citing what they described as a Saudi blockade of Houthi-held areas. Since then, the group has claimed attacks on Saudi tankers, energy facilities and airports, while also stepping up missile and drone attacks on government-held areas in Yemen.
The latest developments add to a wider escalation in Yemen’s prolonged conflict, which began in late 2014 when the Houthis seized large parts of northern Yemen, including the capital Sanaa.
Saudi Arabia led a coalition that intervened in Yemen in 2015 in support of the internationally recognised government. The conflict has since caused a prolonged humanitarian crisis and drawn in regional and international powers.
