Yemen's Government Accuses Houthi Fighters of Attacking Aden Airport

Yemen's internationally recognized government has accused Houthi fighters of launching a coordinated attack on Aden International Airport, which is under their control.

According to sources close to the government, at least two ballistic missiles and several drones were fired at the airport's runway and passenger terminal. The Ministry of Transport confirmed that one of the missiles landed near the runway just minutes before a Yemeni flight from Cairo was set to land.

The ministry decided to divert the incoming flight from Cairo to Jeddah in Saudi Arabia, citing safety concerns for the passengers on board. Meanwhile, two planes were removed from the tarmac and airport terminal staff were evacuated during the attack.

Air traffic control had to take swift action to prevent a potentially disastrous outcome, as the runway was within minutes of being hit by another missile.

Aden airport, the main international gateway for parts of Yemen outside Houthi control, has been a crucial transportation hub since the group took over the capital Sanaa in 2014.

The Houthis claimed to have targeted "Saudi military supplies" arriving at the Badr camp near the airport with ballistic missiles. This move comes as Saudi Arabia continues to support Yemen's government. The Saudi-led coalition fighting in Yemen has been working to counter Houthi advances.

In a separate incident, the Saudi-led coalition intercepted and destroyed a ballistic missile launched by the Houthis north of Riyadh. According to Major-General Turki al-Maliki, the spokesperson for the coalition, they were able to track the launch platform via an intelligence system over Sanaa and promised to destroy it in response.

The Houthi group issued statements on Tuesday and Wednesday claiming to have targeted Saudi international airports in Riyadh and Abha. The intensified fighting in Yemen is taking place against a backdrop of rising regional tensions sparked by the US-Israel conflict with Iran.

Fighting in Yemen has escalated in recent days, with a focus on the southwestern province of Taiz where intense battles are underway.

Taiz is a strategic location as it controls access to the Red Sea coast and any party that dominates this region would gain significant military advantage over others. The fighting in Taiz has taken on an all-out nature, with forces battling for control of highlands, mountains, and coastal areas.

The heightened tensions in Yemen come at a time when regional dynamics are strained due to escalating conflicts involving the US, Israel, and Iran.