Houthis reportedly target Aden airport as coalition says it intercepted drones
The Saudi-led coalition said on Friday it intercepted two drones that it says the Houthis launched toward Riyadh and Medina, though other coverage placed one over Mecca. A Yemeni army spokesman said the Houthis targeted Aden international airport for the sixth time, along with Maashiq palace, using ballistic missiles. The Houthis denied carrying out any operation toward Saudi territory, while government forces and the coalition struck Houthi positions in Marib, Taiz and al-Jawf.
Why it matters
The strikes on Aden airport and Maashiq palace hit the seat of Yemen's government in the city and bear on its stability and air traffic. The conflicting accounts of attacks toward Saudi Arabia show how hard independent verification is, and they leave open the risk of wider regional escalation.
Background
A Saudi-led coalition, working alongside Yemen's government forces, has been conducting military operations against the Houthi group in Yemen. The parties routinely trade accusations over attacks and air strikes, and accounts of events on the ground often rest on each side's official statements.
Key points
- The spokesman for Yemen's armed forces who announced the attack is Colonel Majid Abdullah al-Nazili, who spoke on Friday evening, according to RT Arabic.
- CNN Arabic reported that the interception was announced by the Saudi-led "Coalition to Support Legitimacy" in Yemen.
- Al Jazeera described the Houthi shelling of Aden airport and Maashiq palace as coinciding with the coalition's announcement that it had intercepted the two drones.
How outlets covered it
Al Jazeera, in a live-blog format, covered the broader picture: the coalition's announcement that it intercepted two drones headed for Riyadh and Medina, the shelling of Aden, and air strikes in Marib, Taiz and al-Jawf. CNN Arabic focused only on the Houthi response, which denied carrying out any operation toward Saudi territory, and referred to a single drone intercepted over Mecca. RT Arabic alone carried the statement by Colonel Majid Abdullah al-Nazili that Aden airport was targeted "for the sixth time" and Maashiq palace was hit with ballistic missiles. The outlets differ on where the interception took place, with Al Jazeera citing Riyadh and Medina and CNN citing Mecca, and on the number of drones.
How outlets headlined it
This is a brief summary. The full details and context are in the original coverage.
Read the full story at الجزيرةFollow the story
- Egypt's parliament to convene emergency session on Sisi's request for Saudi defense mandate
- Sisi calls emergency parliament session over possible military support for Saudi Arabia
- Alaa Mubarak weighs in on Egypt's backing for Saudi Arabia amid troop deployment vote
- Egypt's parliament delays vote on authorizing military support for Saudi Arabia
- Egypt's parliament authorizes Sisi to take measures to support Saudi Arabia
- Egypt's parliament approves military support for Saudi Arabia as Ansar Allah threatens attacks
- Houthis claim strikes on Saudi sites including Ras Tanura refinery
- Houthis claim strikes on Saudi oil sites and airports; Riyadh reports intercepting two missiles
- Houthis reportedly target Aden airport as coalition says it intercepted drones
In this story:YemenSaudi Arabia
This summary was prepared with the help of AI based on the source's reporting and may contain errors. Spotted a mistake? Let us know
