Houthi missiles target Aden as Saudi coalition reports drone interceptions

Missile fire on Aden and interceptions in Saudi Arabia

The Houthis fired ballistic missiles at the airport and the Maashiq presidential palace in Aden, according to a military statement from Yemen. Neither report said whether anyone was harmed or whether the missiles hit their targets. Separately, the Saudi-led coalition, which backs Yemen's internationally recognised government, said it had destroyed a Houthi drone over the Medina region, home to one of Islam's holiest sites. Coalition spokesman Turki al-Malki said on X that air defences destroyed a drone over the Riyadh region and intercepted a ballistic missile aimed at the kingdom's southern region.

Mecca denial and cross-border escalation

Al-Malki had earlier reported a drone intercepted toward the Mecca region, and on Friday he said a Houthi cruise missile aimed at western Saudi Arabia had also been destroyed. The Houthis deny targeting Mecca or its surrounding region. Their military spokesman, Yahya Saree, called the Saudi claim about a drone over Mecca false and said no operation had been launched toward Saudi depth that day. The group says its cross-border strikes target Saudi oil facilities and military bases. The coalition has repeatedly accused the Houthis of firing drones and missiles at Mecca and Medina, which the group denies, and on Thursday it reported destroying a ballistic missile aimed at the eastern region as well as intercepting two ballistic missiles toward Riyadh.

Riyadh airport strike and the US staff order

A strike on Riyadh's international airport on 10 October killed at least 13 people and injured hundreds, the deadliest attack in the kingdom in more than ten years. The US embassy in Riyadh said non-emergency government employees and their families were told on 23 October to leave Saudi Arabia because of safety risks. Government employees now need special authorisation to use Saudi airports, and the embassy warned US citizens of possible further attacks, airspace closures, flight cancellations and other travel disruptions. The Houthis have pledged to keep attacking the airport, which they describe as a military target. Officials said the airport reopened, and that it intercepted another barrage of drones and missiles on the same day.

Wider war, regional shipping and the US stance

Analysts cited by The Independent say the offensive aims to secure the Red Sea while Iran keeps its hold on the Strait of Hormuz, a position that lets the group push oil prices higher and complicates Washington's efforts to end the crisis. In September the Houthis gained ground on Yemen's western coast and around the Bab el-Mandeb strait, a key route for world trade and oil shipping. US President Donald Trump has not committed to striking the Houthis in support of Saudi Arabia, although some experts think American action could be needed to loosen the rebels' control of Red Sea shipping lanes. In an interview with a Kansas City radio station, Trump said he expects the war with Iran to end soon without explaining how, and that the US would not strike Iran before the 3 November congressional midterm elections. Oman's maritime security centre said on 30 October that the Omani navy had evacuated 25 crew members of a commercial vessel.