3 people were killed and 36 injured in drone and missile attacks on two Saudi Arabian airports, according to the General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA). The strikes targeted Abha International Airport and Riyadh's King Khalid International Airport on 6 and 7 October.
The Houthis claimed responsibility for both attacks. GACA said all injured people were taken to hospitals, while officials were reviewing the security of airport facilities and taking measures to protect travellers.
Casualties at the two airports
The attack on Abha International Airport killed two women from Morocco and Algeria. Another 28 people were injured there, including Saudi, Bangladeshi and Filipino nationals.
At King Khalid International Airport, a Sudanese national was killed. 8 people were injured, including five Saudi nationals, two Egyptian residents and one Pakistani resident.
The reported casualties make the airport strikes the most immediate impact described in the available account. The aviation authority's response is focused on medical treatment, facility security and passenger protection.
Saudi-led coalition reports retaliation
A Saudi-led coalition operating in Yemen said it had carried out retaliatory action against more than 80 Houthi military sites. The coalition also said it destroyed a ballistic missile launch platform used in an attack on Riyadh.
Colonel Turki al-Maliki, the coalition's spokesperson, said the platform was destroyed in Yemen's capital, Sanaa. He said another attack on Saudi Arabia was being prepared there and could have been launched soon.
The Houthi military spokesperson, Yahya Saree, had earlier claimed responsibility for missile and drone attacks at several locations in Saudi Arabia. Those claims included an attack on Aramco's refinery in Rabigh, described in the report as the world's largest oil refinery.
Saree said the group had conducted three major military operations using large numbers of ballistic and cruise missiles, along with drones. He claimed the attacks were carried out in response to Saudi attacks on Yemen, including 60 air and missile strikes during the previous 24 hours.
Those statements are claims by the Houthi spokesperson. The account also separately reports the Saudi-led coalition's claim about destroying a launch platform in Sanaa.
Fighting continues around Bab al-Mandeb
The Yemeni government is conducting a military campaign against the Houthis, with support from Saudi Arabia. The stated aim is to recover areas held by the Houthis in Yemen and near the Bab al-Mandeb Strait.
In September, the Houthis advanced along Yemen's Red Sea coast and captured the city of Mocha and several important areas around Bab al-Mandeb, according to the report. The gains strengthened their position around the strategic maritime route.
On 5 October, Saudi-backed Yemeni forces began a major counter-operation. They claimed to have retaken the Dhubab area near Bab al-Mandeb and several important positions. The Yemeni army then moved towards Mocha, while the Yemeni government claimed to have retaken the city.
Reuters was cited as reporting that government forces had pushed the Houthis back from most areas captured during the previous month. The report does not independently establish all battlefield claims.
Houthi claims about attacks in Yemen
Al Jazeera was cited in connection with a claim by Yahya Saree that the Houthis had fired 11 ballistic missiles at government forces in Yemen during the previous 24 hours.
Saree claimed that government positions on key routes near Bab al-Mandeb were targeted. He also claimed that dozens of people were casualties, including military commanders, and that several vehicles were destroyed.
In a separate claim, the Houthi spokesperson said the group had used a ballistic missile to attack the Saudi-backed Giants Brigades. He claimed that more than 30 people were killed or injured in that strike.
Media reports cited in the account put the combined number of government soldiers and Houthi fighters killed in the conflict at more than 270. The figure is presented as a reported estimate, rather than as a new official casualty update.
Conclusion
The verified account records 3 deaths and 36 injuries in attacks on two Saudi airports, followed by Saudi-led coalition claims of strikes on more than 80 Houthi military sites. Fighting and competing claims continue around Yemen and the Bab al-Mandeb area.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. Which Saudi airports were attacked?
Abha International Airport and Riyadh's King Khalid International Airport were targeted on 6 and 7 October.
Q. How many people were killed and injured?
3 people were killed and 36 were injured across the two airport attacks.
Q. Who claimed responsibility for the airport attacks?
The Houthis claimed responsibility for both attacks.
Q. What did the Saudi-led coalition report?
It said it had carried out retaliatory action against more than 80 Houthi military sites and destroyed a ballistic missile launch platform in Sanaa.
Q. Where were the airport casualties recorded?
Abha Airport recorded two deaths and 28 injuries. King Khalid International Airport recorded one death and eight injuries.
Q. What is the focus of the Yemeni military campaign?
The campaign aims to recover areas held by the Houthis in Yemen and near the Bab al-Mandeb Strait.
Q. What did the Houthi spokesperson claim about attacks in Yemen?
Yahya Saree claimed that 11 ballistic missiles were fired at positions held by Yemeni government forces during the previous 24 hours.
