Houthi militants from Yemen have carried out deadly drone and missile attacks on multiple airports in Saudi Arabia, including the Abha International Airport, killing at least three people and raising serious concerns about aviation safety across the region.
The attacks, which targeted key air travel hubs deep inside Saudi territory, prompted the Houthi movement to issue what they called a ‘last warning’ to international airlines operating in Saudi airspace. The rebel group warned global carriers to avoid flying over Saudi Arabia, signaling an alarming escalation in their cross-border military campaign.
Among the airports targeted was the one in Abha, a city located in the Asir region of southwestern Saudi Arabia. The strikes caused casualties and damage, with Saudi officials confirming that three individuals lost their lives in the coordinated assaults. The attacks have sent shockwaves through the aviation industry, with airlines now forced to reassess their flight routes over the Arabian Peninsula.
The Houthi movement, which controls large parts of northern Yemen and has been at war with a Saudi-led coalition since 2015, has increasingly used drones and ballistic missiles to strike targets inside Saudi Arabia. These latest attacks represent one of the more brazen strikes on civilian infrastructure in recent memory, drawing sharp condemnation from Riyadh and the international community.
For Indian travelers and the Indian aviation sector, the development carries significant implications. Several Indian airlines operate flights through Saudi Arabian airspace, and any prolonged disruption could affect routes connecting India to destinations across the Middle East, Europe, and beyond.
Experts warn that the widening fallout from the Yemen civil war continues to pose a serious threat to regional stability and global air travel. Saudi authorities have urged international bodies to take note of the Houthi threat, calling for stronger global action against the rebel group’s attacks on civilian infrastructure.
