Yemeni Army Reports 700 Operations as Missile Debris Lands Near Mecca

The war in Yemen has expanded to include the kingdom's most sacred sites. Two ballistic missiles launched by Houthi forces were intercepted over Saudi Arabia on Saturday, with debris falling near Mecca and Medina.

Saudi Arabia's civil defence agency confirmed the interceptions in a post on X. The agency warned that shrapnel from the downed projectiles landed within the kingdom. Images released by the Saudi Press Agency showed a large, blackened object that appeared to be a missile fragment. Meanwhile, the Yemeni government's Transport Ministry said two missiles hit Aden International Airport. Officials called this the fourth attack on the facility in the current month. The ministry noted that the strikes threaten civil aviation and have economic consequences for residents who rely on the airport for travel.

In Aden, Yemeni authorities reported that the coastguard headquarters and another building were also hit. The Houthi group claimed responsibility for striking the al-Nasr camp and a naval military base. In Sanaa, a city under Houthi control, the Yemeni army announced that a Houthi missile malfunctioned on Friday. The projectile crashed into a family home, killing three people. The military said 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. Riyadh has not yet issued a formal comment on the claim. The Houthi group disputed the Saudi narrative regarding their targets. They stated that they aimed at three Saudi airports, oil infrastructure, and an airbase, calling the claim that they targeted Mecca and Medina a huge lie.

Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi, the Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council, described the attacks as heinous. He said the strikes showed a blatant disregard for civilian lives. On the ground, Colonel Majed Abdullah al-Nazili, a Yemeni army spokesman, said government forces conducted more than 700 targeting operations over the previous 24 hours. He claimed these actions neutralized 300 Houthi fighters and disabled military vehicles. The operations focused on command centres, weapons depots, and supply lines in the Taiz region, where intense clashes have persisted for days.

The conflict has intensified since a fragile ceasefire agreed upon in 2022 collapsed in July. The Houthis have used long-range strikes to pressure Saudi energy infrastructure and airports. Fighting continues along front lines as Houthi forces battle government troops for control of key areas.