Saudi Arabia reported that three people were injured in attacks on two airports near its border with Yemen on Monday evening. The airports in Jazan and Najran were targeted, according to a statement from Saudi Arabia's Civil Aviation Authority on Tuesday.
"The attacks resulted in three minor injuries and material damage," the statement said.
Yemen's Houthi group, also known as Ansar Allah, claimed responsibility late Monday for targeting sites across southern Saudi Arabia, including airports and military facilities.
The Saudi civil aviation authority stated that the injured have been hospitalized and that specialized teams immediately addressed the attacks. The authority is continuing to assess the damage and implement measures to ensure the safety of passengers and staff.
Jassim al-Budaiwi, Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council, condemned the attacks on airports and civilian facilities as a "dangerous escalation" and urged the international community to adopt a "firm stance against these attacks." Kuwait's Ministry of Foreign Affairs also denounced the Iran-aligned group's "continued brazen and disgraceful attacks" on Saudi Arabia, accusing them of targeting civilians and economic infrastructure.
Fighting in Yemen has intensified recently. The Saudi-led coalition announced early Tuesday that it had destroyed a ballistic missile launch platform in Sanaa, Yemen's capital, which the Houthis have controlled since 2014. Additionally, the coalition reported destroying a storage facility in Saada containing 20 ballistic missiles, according to the official Saudi Press Agency.
These announcements followed a counteroffensive launched by forces aligned with Yemen's internationally recognized government to reclaim territory captured by the Iran-aligned Houthis last month. Forces loyal to the Yemeni government claimed to have recaptured the Red Sea port city of Mocha and now control the strategic Bab al-Mandeb strait.
The Saudi-led coalition confirmed its involvement in the Yemeni government's offensive, stating that 100 of its fighter jets are providing air support. Saudi naval forces have also initiated operations against the Houthis in Hodeidah governorate.
Fernando Carvajal, a former United Nations Security Council adviser on Yemen, told Al Jazeera that Mocha's recapture is crucial for the next phase of conflict. He noted that government forces must demonstrate their ability to hold the city, which is "surrounded by Houthis from all three sides," before using it as a staging point.
Meanwhile, Turkiye, Pakistan, and Saudi Arabia have agreed to activate "deterrence measures" under a mutual defense pact and to rapidly deploy forces to Saudi Arabia to counter Houthi attacks. Saudi Arabia's Defense Minister Khalid bin Salman stated on social media that the alliance reaffirmed "the solidarity and unity of our countries, in confronting the heinous attacks against the Kingdom, and holy sites."
Carvajal commented that the practical support from these nations remains unclear. He suggested that Pakistan might attempt to mediate between the warring parties, but that the Houthis would likely only engage in talks with the Saudis, potentially excluding the Yemeni government.
