(Al Jazeera Media Network) Yemen’s Houthis, the armed group also known as Ansar Allah (Arabic for Supporters of God), are hitting deep inside Saudi Arabia with waves of ballistic missiles, cruise missiles and drones.
Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport has been targeted multiple times by the Houthis since their new military campaign against the kingdom began in September.
An attack on the airport on Saturday killed 12 people and wounded 309, the deadliest attack in the kingdom in more than a decade. Saudi Arabia’s civil aviation authority was forced to suspend operations and diverted all flights, while the United States and United Kingdom issued new travel warnings for citizens.
The Houthis claimed two other attacks on the air hub earlier this week and on Sunday warned people to avoid Saudi airports.
Houthi weaponry
Saudi Arabia possesses one of the best-equipped militaries in the world, boasting advanced, multilayered air defence systems.
Saudi warplanes have pummelled Houthi positions across Yemen in the past week, seeking to roll back the Iran-backed group’s recent advances against the Yemeni government army, which Riyadh supports.
The Houthis’ own arsenal has come a long way since the group seized control of Sanaa from the government in September 2014.
Their drones and missiles have reached as far as Israel and, as their accuracy has shown, can hit particular targets such as Saudi airports and oil facilities.
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/10/11/why-are-houthi-missiles-breaking-through-saudi-arabias-air-defences