Houthi missiles hit Aden airport for sixth time; Houthis say Saudi strikes kill 14
Two Houthi ballistic missiles struck the perimeter of Aden airport on Wednesday, wounding civilians and halting flights, while Houthi media said Saudi air strikes on al-Jawf province killed 14 people as the Saudi-Houthi war widens.
At a glance
- Two Houthi ballistic missiles hit the perimeter of Aden International Airport on Wednesday, October 28, wounding several civilians, causing damage and halting air traffic, Yemen's government said.
- Government military spokesman Col. Majed Al-Nuzaily called it the sixth Houthi attack on the airport; the Transport Ministry warned of a serious threat to civil aviation.
- Houthi spokesman Yahya Saree had told people to leave the airport, claiming a Saudi military cargo plane was carrying weapons; a police source said a Saudi aircraft was there during the first impact but was not hit.
- Houthi-run media said Saudi air strikes on al-Hazm in al-Jawf province, including a petrol station and a market, killed 14 people and wounded 10–15; the figures could not be independently verified.
- Yemen's government said its forces carried out 749 strikes on Houthi targets in 24 hours, killing or wounding 239 fighters and commanders.
Yemen's Houthi movement fired two ballistic missiles at Aden International Airport on Wednesday, October 28, 2026, wounding several civilians, damaging facilities and halting flights at the main gateway to government-held southern Yemen. On the same day, Houthi-run media said Saudi air strikes on the town of al-Hazm in northern al-Jawf province killed 14 people, as the war between Saudi Arabia and the Houthis enters its fourth month.
What happened at Aden airport
The two missiles struck inside the airport perimeter, in an area a police official said was under the control of Saudi forces. Col. Majed Al-Nuzaily, spokesman for Yemen's government armed forces, said the strike caused civilian injuries and material damage, and described it as "part of a recurring series of attacks" on civilian and vital infrastructure. It was the sixth Houthi attack on the airport, he said. No figures for the number of wounded were given.
Air traffic was halted after the strike. Yemen's Transport Ministry condemned the attack and warned that the repeated strikes posed a serious threat to civil aviation.
Before the strike, Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree told people at the airport to "immediately evacuate", claiming a Saudi military cargo plane there was carrying weapons. A police source said a Saudi aircraft was at the airport during the first impact but was not damaged and left shortly afterwards. The Houthi claim about weapons could not be verified.
| Recent attacks on Aden airport | What happened |
|---|---|
| October 7 | Missiles and drones; one missile landed near the runway, a Cairo flight diverted to Jeddah, terminal evacuated |
| October 24 | Two ballistic missiles — the fourth attack in October, the Transport Ministry said |
| October 28 | Two ballistic missiles hit the perimeter; civilians wounded, flights halted (sixth attack) |
Strikes in al-Jawf
The Houthis' Almasirah broadcaster said Saudi air strikes on al-Hazm, the capital of al-Jawf province, hit a petrol station and a market, killing 14 people, including women and children, and wounding between 10 and 15. Some early Houthi reports gave a lower figure of 11 dead. Saudi Arabia did not comment on the strikes, and the casualty figures could not be independently confirmed.
Separately, Col. Al-Nuzaily said government forces had carried out 749 strikes on Houthi targets in the previous 24 hours, "neutralising" 239 Houthi commanders and fighters and destroying or damaging 117 vehicles and pieces of equipment. Those figures could also not be verified.
Background
Yemen's 2022 truce collapsed in July 2026 after the Houthis allowed an Iranian aircraft to land in Sanaa, defying Saudi control of Yemen's airspace. The Houthis then declared a sea blockade of Saudi Arabia and began attacking Saudi ships, cities and oil facilities, and seized government-held land on the Red Sea coast.
On Tuesday the Houthis claimed strikes on the Saudi Defence Ministry in Riyadh, the Ras Tanura refinery and Abha airport; Saudi Arabia said it intercepted missiles over Riyadh and the Eastern Province. The fighting is tied to the wider confrontation between Iran and the United States, and to diplomatic efforts in Tehran involving Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Türkiye to calm the region.
Why it matters
Aden airport is one of the few ways in and out of Yemen for civilians, aid workers and medical supplies, and repeated attacks risk cutting a lifeline for millions of people who rely on humanitarian help. The war also affects Gulf oil supplies and shipping, which keeps fuel prices high in countries such as Pakistan and India. Hundreds of thousands of Pakistani and Indian workers live in Saudi Arabia, where Houthi missiles have targeted major cities.
What happens next
Airlines will decide whether to resume flights to Aden once the authorities declare the airport safe. Saudi-led forces have promised to respond to attacks on civilian airports, and the Houthis have warned of more strikes. Regional mediators are continuing talks aimed at a ceasefire.
Questions people are asking
Was Aden airport attacked?
Yes. Two Houthi ballistic missiles struck the perimeter of Aden International Airport on October 28, 2026, wounding several civilians and causing damage. Air traffic was halted after the strike, Yemen's government said.
Why are the Houthis attacking Aden airport?
The Houthis say the airport is being used by Saudi forces and claimed a Saudi cargo plane was carrying weapons there. Aden is the seat of Yemen's Saudi-backed government, which calls the strikes attacks on civilian infrastructure.
Why are Saudi Arabia and the Houthis fighting again?
Yemen's 2022 truce collapsed in July 2026 after the Houthis let an Iranian plane land in Sanaa in defiance of Saudi control of Yemeni airspace. Since then the Houthis have fired missiles and drones at Saudi cities and oil sites, and Saudi-led forces have struck Houthi areas.
