The Houthis of Yemen announced on October 21 that they have not launched any drones towards the holy city of Medina and have not conducted any military operations towards Saudi Arabia. This statement was issued in response to remarks made by the Saudi-led coalition in Yemen, which claimed to have intercepted drones over Medina and the eastern region of Saudi Arabia.
Recent Houthi Operations and Threats to Flights
Yahya Sari, the military spokesman for the Houthi group, dismissed these claims as incorrect and emphasized that no attacks on Saudi Arabia have taken place. At the same time, the Houthis warned airlines this month not to use Saudi airspace, exempting only the airspace of the holy cities of Mecca and Medina from this threat. The group has also recently intensified attacks on Saudi infrastructure, including Riyadh's international airport and the Saudi oil company Aramco, leading to disruptions in flights and oil exports.
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Humanitarian Situation in Yemen and Escalation of Conflicts
Yemen, considered one of the worst humanitarian crises in the world, has been embroiled in a civil war since 2014. This war began when the Houthis ousted the established government from the northern capital, Sanaa, leading to military intervention by the Saudi-led coalition. In recent weeks, the fighting has intensified again, and the ceasefire between the parties, established in 2022 with the mediation of the United Nations, has come to an end. This increase in tensions has opened a new front in the U.S. and Israeli war against Iran.
Within Yemen, the Houthis attacked a military camp near the airport in the southern city of Aden, which is the seat of the Yemeni government, on Wednesday. A government military source and a local official also reported an attack on the Riyan airport in the coastal city of Mukalla in southeastern Yemen. Additionally, a Houthi missile attack on a training camp for government security forces in Shabwa province on Monday resulted in the deaths of 73 people.
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