Houthis target Aramco refinery, Saudi capital airport as Mecca defence pact activated

Houthis said that they targeted King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh with missiles (AFP)

Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthi rebels on Monday claimed to have launched a fresh wave of missile and drone attacks on Saudi Arabia, targeting key airports, an Aramco refinery and a military base, as Saudi-backed Yemeni forces stepped up their offensive against the group along the Red Sea coast, Reuters reported.The claimed strikes mark a sharp escalation in the Saudi-Houthi confrontation, with the conflict increasingly spilling across Yemen's borders and threatening critical Saudi economic and military infrastructure.According to Reuters, the Houthis said their three operations targeted King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, an Aramco refinery in Rabigh, Abha International Airport and a military base in Khamis Mushait.

The claims could not be independently verified, and there was no immediate Saudi confirmation of the specific attacks.The escalation came as Saudi-backed Yemeni government forces made fresh territorial gains against the Houthis along Yemen's western coast, including areas near the strategically vital Bab el-Mandeb Strait.The offensive, backed by Saudi air power, has increased pressure on the Houthis and prompted the Iran-aligned group to threaten Saudi territory in retaliation.

According to Reuters, Yemeni government forces advanced towards Mocha after recapturing areas near the strait.The Saudi-Houthi escalation has also triggered the activation of the Mecca defence pact, with Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Türkiye moving to implement their collective-defence commitments.At an emergency meeting in Riyadh, the three countries agreed to take necessary measures for the rapid deployment of agreed military forces and capabilities in Saudi Arabia, the Saudi Press Agency reported