The Houthis warned travelers and airlines this morning to stay away from Saudi Arabian airports. This is the first public message from the group since the deadly attack that occurred on Saturday. Yahya Saree, the military spokesman for the Houthis, stated that Mecca and Medina - the holiest cities in Islam - are exempt from this warning, but other airports and airspace in Saudi Arabia "are subject to targeting and are considered operational scenes for our forces."
Houthi Message and Saudi Responsibility
Yahya Saree warned the public to "take this warning seriously" and also claimed that "Saudi Arabia bears the responsibility for any failure in interception." This warning comes as Saudi Arabia has requested more missile interception systems from the United States and other Western allies, as hostilities have sharply increased. Saree concluded his message by stating that his group is pursuing: "airport by airport, siege by siege, and escalation by escalation" to achieve its objectives.
Read more: Suspension of Lufthansa and Indian Airlines flights to Riyadh after Houthi attacks
Saudi Arabia's Counterattacks and the Situation in Yemen
In recent weeks, the Houthis have attacked the main airport in the Saudi capital, while Saudi Arabia has intensified its attacks on Houthi-controlled areas in Yemen. The Houthi-controlled Ministry of Health has reported that in the past five weeks, 91 Yemenis have been killed and 168 others injured, with 60% of the casualties being women and children. This statistic reflects the severe impact of the conflict on civilians in Yemen.
This week, the Saudi-led coalition supporting Yemen's government launched a major counteroffensive to quickly push back the Houthi group, which has rapidly seized territory since September. The Houthis have also taken control of islands in the Bab al-Mandab Strait and established their positions along the Red Sea, reinforcing their control over this vital passage used by Saudi Arabia, one of the largest oil exporters.
Read more: The Nobel Peace Prize 2026 awarded to Navanthan 'Navi' Pila · Syria considers sending troops to Saudi Arabia in the Yemen war
