Supporters of the Houthi authorities brandish their weapons during a protest against the Saudi intervention in Yemen, in Sanaa, on October 9, 2026. Photo Mohammed Huwais / AFP Supporters of the Houthi authorities brandish their weapons during a protest against Saudi intervention in Yemen, in Sanaa, on October 9, 2026. The Houthis, who are fighting the Saudi-backed, internationally recognised government, seized the coastline alongside crucial trade route during a lightning offensive last month, extending their control over all of Yemen's Red Sea coast. Yemeni government forces have been attempting for several days to retake coastal territory captured by the pro-Iranian fighters. (Photo by Mohammed HUWAIS / AFP)
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Dozens of people were injured Saturday at Riyadh International Airport, including at least five Saudi nationals who were placed in intensive care, after a missile strike claimed by the Houthis, according to a diplomatic source cited by Agence France-Presse. Some of the wounded were transported to a hospital by helicopter, according to a medical source.
An evacuation of the Saudi capital’s airport was also underway, and authorities urged passengers to check their flight status before heading there. The incident comes amid an escalation between Saudi Arabia and Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi rebels, who have claimed several attacks on the airport in recent days but had not immediately claimed responsibility for Saturday’s strike.
Meanwhile, Yemeni government forces backed by Riyadh say they are gaining ground against the rebels on the outskirts of the strategic Bab al-Mandeb Strait.
Military sources aligned with the government said the Houthis, who seized control of the strait during a lightning offensive in early September, still hold Mayyun island, located in the middle of the maritime passage.
The rebels “pushed back concentrations of Saudi-allied troops trying to advance from Lahj toward Bab al-Mandeb, without achieving any progress,” Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree wrote on Telegram.
Why it matters
The latest escalation comes as Saudi Arabia intensifies its military involvement in Yemen, supporting government forces seeking to retake territory captured by the Houthis.
At the center of the fighting is the strategic Bab al-Mandeb Strait, which connects the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden and serves as a vital passage for maritime trade between Europe and Asia via the Suez Canal.
Its importance has grown since Iran blocked the Strait of Hormuz, disrupting Gulf oil exports. By seizing strategic positions around Bab al-Mandeb, particularly Mayyun island, the Houthis have strengthened their ability to threaten another major energy shipping lane.
For Riyadh, the objective is not only to contain the advance of Iran-backed rebels but also to secure its energy infrastructure and export routes as missile and drone attacks on the kingdom multiply. Despite claims of advances by government forces, control of the strait remains contested.
What to watch
Mahmoud Abbas postpones Palestinian elections by nearly a year, citing ‘Israeli obstacles.’ Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas announced that legislative and presidential elections would be held simultaneously on Sept. 11, 2027. Legislative elections had initially been scheduled for Nov. 28 this year.
The Palestinian presidency justified the delay by citing ‘‘obstacles imposed by Israeli measures,’’ including restrictions on access to East Jerusalem and the Gaza Strip, as well as the need to guarantee conditions for a ‘‘free, fair and inclusive’’ vote.
The decision comes after Fatah and Hamas agreed Wednesday, during talks in Cairo, to engage in a national dialogue. The last Palestinian legislative elections were held in 2006 and were won by Hamas. Abbas, who was elected president in 2005, has remained in office despite his term expiring in 2009.
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- Aoun and Rassamny condemn attacks against Saudi Arabia. Head of state Joseph Aoun condemned the attacks targeting the Wahhabi kingdom, denouncing them as "a threat to its security and stability, as well as to the entire region." He reaffirmed "Lebanon's full solidarity with Saudi Arabia," emphasizing that the kingdom's security is inseparable from that of the Middle East. Public Works and Transport Minister Fayez Rassamny also condemned the attacks on Saudi airports, reiterating Beirut's support for Riyadh.
