Sana, August 21: The Houthi rebel group has claimed responsibility for drone attacks on an airport and a Saudi Aramco oil facility located in the southern Najran region of Saudi Arabia. Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Saree announced on the social media platform X that two drone strikes were executed, with one targeting a “sensitive site” at the Najran airport and the other hitting an oil facility operated by Saudi Aramco.
Saree asserted that both attacks successfully achieved their objectives, although he did not provide information regarding any casualties or damage. According to the Houthi group, these strikes were a response to drone incursions by Saudi Arabia into the airspace of Yemen’s northern Saada province, which is a stronghold for the Houthis and borders Saudi Arabia.
As of now, there has been no official response from the Saudi government or Aramco regarding the Houthi claims. This announcement comes amid escalating tensions between the Houthis and Saudi Arabia.
Meanwhile, Yemen’s government forces also claimed to have conducted 81 military operations against Houthi positions in the past 24 hours. Government spokesperson Majid Al-Nujaili stated that these operations targeted Houthi fighters and their bases across multiple fronts, resulting in the deaths or injuries of several fighters and field commanders.
He noted that these operations were a response to continuous Houthi attacks on government forces and civilian infrastructure. However, the Houthi group has yet to respond to these claims from the government forces.
It is noteworthy that on July 20, the Houthi group announced a maritime blockade on Saudi vessels, accusing Saudi Arabia of besieging Houthi-controlled areas. Since then, the group has claimed multiple attacks on Saudi tankers, energy facilities, and airports, while also intensifying missile and drone strikes on areas controlled by the Yemeni government.
The conflict in Yemen has been ongoing since late 2014 when the Houthis seized control of the capital Sana and large parts of northern Yemen. This prompted a military intervention by a Saudi-led coalition in support of the internationally recognized Yemeni government in 2015.
Deependra Singh Chundawat is a Senior Sub-Editor at Udaipur Kiran, specializing in a wide range of technology topics including mobile phones, applications, gaming, PCs, and wearables. Along with covering the latest tech news, he also creates engaging web stories. Passionate about emerging technologies, he stays up to date with the newest trends and enjoys reading and writing about the latest mobile launches and digital innovations.