Yemeni Forces Launch Combined Missile and Drone Strike on Saudi Airbase

The Yemeni Armed Forces have launched a combined missile and drone attack on King Khalid Air Base near Khamis Mushait in Saudi Arabia’s southern Asir region, describing the operation as retaliation for continued Saudi military aggression and the blockade against Yemen. Yemeni military spokesman Brigadier General Yahya Saree said in a televised statement on Monday that dozens of domestically produced ballistic missiles and combat drones were used in the large-scale operation. He said the strikes targeted military installations and infrastructure, aircraft hangars, radar systems, runways, weapons depots and other designated sites inside the airbase.

Saree warned that Yemeni forces would continue carrying out operations deep inside Saudi territory as long as what he described as aggression against Yemen continues. He said any further military action would receive a stronger response, reiterating what he called the “siege-for-siege” and “escalation-for-escalation” equation. The Yemeni spokesman also said Saudi troop concentrations would remain targets until the military campaign ends and the blockade on Yemen is completely lifted.

The Sana’a government announced a maritime blockade against Saudi Arabia on July 20, describing it as a response to what it called an unjust siege imposed on Yemen. Since then, Yemeni forces have reported a series of operations against vessels linked to Saudi Arabia in the Red Sea. Saudi Arabia and its allies launched a military campaign against Yemen in March 2015, with the operation receiving military, political and logistical support from the United States and several Western countries. The conflict has caused a severe humanitarian crisis and resulted in tens of thousands of deaths, while the Saudi-led intervention failed to achieve its stated objective of restoring a government aligned with Riyadh.