Yemeni Army Claims 300 Houthi Kills as Missile Debris Reaches Mecca
Saudi civil defence confirmed interceptions over holy cities while the Yemeni government reported a fourth strike on Aden airport this month.
By Alina Campbell ·
Missile debris landed in Mecca and Medina on Saturday as the Yemeni army announced it had conducted more than 700 targeting operations in the previous day. The simultaneous events marked a sharp escalation in the conflict between the internationally recognized government, Houthi forces, and Saudi Arabia.
Saudi Arabia’s civil defence agency stated on X that it intercepted two ballistic missiles fired toward the holy cities. The agency warned of falling shrapnel after the interceptions. Images released by the Saudi Press Agency showed a large, blackened object that appeared to be a missile component resting on Saudi territory.
The Houthi group disputed the official account of the strikes. In their own reporting, they described the claim that they aimed at Mecca and Medina as a huge lie. The group said their intended targets were three Saudi airports, oil infrastructure, and an airbase.
In Yemen, the Transport Ministry condemned the second wave of attacks on Aden International Airport. The ministry said two ballistic missiles hit the facility on Saturday, marking the fourth such incident in the current month. Officials noted that the attacks threaten civil aviation safety and have economic consequences for travelers. Yemeni authorities also reported that the coastguard headquarters and another building were struck. The Houthis claimed responsibility for hitting the al-Nasr camp and a naval military base.
Colonel Majed Abdullah al-Nazili, a Yemeni army spokesman, said government forces carried out over 700 operations in the last 24 hours. He claimed these actions neutralized 300 Houthi fighters and disabled military vehicles. The spokesman said the operations focused on command centers, weapons depots, and supply lines in Taiz, where clashes have persisted for days.
The Yemeni army also reported a missile malfunction on Friday. A Houthi projectile crashed into a family home in Sanaa, a city under Houthi control, killing three people. The military noted that this was one of several malfunctions observed from the Iran-backed group in recent weeks.
Houthi-run Al-Masirah TV reported that Saudi coalition airstrikes killed several civilians in Sanaa and Hodeidah on Saturday. The claim could not be independently verified, and Riyadh has not issued a formal comment. Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi, the Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council, called the attacks heinous and said they showed a blatant disregard for civilian security.
