Operations Suspended at Saudi Airport After Houthi Attack Claim

Operations were suspended at an airport in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday after Yemen's Iran-backed Houthis announced they had attacked the site, a regional source with knowledge of the matter said. The airport's main radar was hit, affecting operations, according to the source.

The attack targeted Najran Airport, located near the Yemeni border, and was carried out using a drone, the Houthis' military spokesman Yahya Saree said. In a statement, he said the rebels "successfully targeted a sensitive target belonging to the Saudi enemy at Najran Airport."

The airport website listed the status of flights scheduled for the next few days as "unknown." Saudi Arabia has not yet issued any comment on the claimed attack.

Coverage Comparison

The Houthi claim was reported by both the Jerusalem Post and The Hindu, which drew on regional sources and statements from the Houthi military spokesman. The Jerusalem Post's report focused on the Houthi assertion that the attack was in response to Saudi drone incursions into Yemeni airspace, while The Hindu's report included additional details about Saudi retaliation and the broader context of renewed hostilities.

Both reports noted that the Houthis have declared a maritime blockade on Saudi Arabia in the Red Sea, with The Hindu specifying it was declared last month. The Hindu also reported that Saudi Arabia has retaliated with strikes targeting Houthi positions, a detail not included in the Jerusalem Post's coverage.

Key Claims

  • Houthis claimed an attack on Najran Airport in Saudi Arabia using a drone, as stated by Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree and reported by both sources.
  • The attack was in response to Saudi drone incursions into Yemeni airspace over the Saada and Hajjah governorates, according to the Houthis.
  • A regional source told The Hindu that the airport's main radar was hit, affecting operations.
  • Saudi Arabia has retaliated with strikes targeting Houthi positions, as reported by The Hindu.
  • The Houthis declared a maritime blockade of Saudi Arabia last month, as reported by The Hindu. The Jerusalem Post also reported that the Houthis imposed a naval blockade on Saudi Arabia in the Red Sea.
  • The renewed hostilities mark the first time Saudi Arabia and the Houthis have traded heavy fire since a 2022 truce, as noted in The Hindu's report.