Smoke rises from the presidential palace in Aden, after a Houthi attack, on Oct. 15, 2026. (Credit: Social Media/via Reuters)
Iran on Friday denied any involvement in attacks carried out by Yemen’s Houthis against Saudi Arabia, following accusations by Riyadh that the Islamic Republic bears some responsibility for the escalating conflict.
The scale of the Houthi attacks, particularly those targeting oil infrastructure and Saudi airports, is unprecedented since the war between the Houthis and the Yemeni government, backed by Riyadh, began in 2014. The international airport in the kingdom’s capital has been targeted 20 times since early October. Strikes there last Saturday left 13 people dead and more than 300 injured.
’’The escalation carried out by the Houthis … is encouraged by Iran,’’ Saudi Deputy Foreign Minister Rayed Krimly said Thursday, accusing Tehran of continuing to ‘‘arm, train and support’’ the movement.
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghai responded in a statement on Friday, saying the Houthis ‘‘act based on their own interests and their own analysis.’’ He added that ‘‘such allegations lack credibility in the eyes of those who know Iran and its allies well.’’
’’Iran believes that an escalation of tensions serves none of the parties’ interests,’’ he said, reiterating Tehran’s offer to mediate between the two sides.
Backed by Iran, the Houthis are part of the ‘‘Axis of Resistance,’’ a network opposed to Israel that also includes Hezbollah, Hamas and several Iraqi Shiite armed groups.
Missiles and drones intercepted
On the ground, the Houthis claimed responsibility Friday night for firing two missiles that landed near Aden airport, in the city where Yemen’s internationally recognized government has taken refuge. The Iran-backed fighters said they had targeted a Saudi command center. According to local authorities, both strikes hit the airport complex, but no casualties were immediately reported.
Yemeni Information Minister Moammar Al-Eryani condemned the attack on X, calling it ‘‘not only an attack on a civilian airport, but a direct threat to the lives of passengers and crews, to aviation safety.’’
The Saudi-led coalition said it had intercepted missiles and drones over Riyadh and other parts of the country.
’’We have intercepted and destroyed three drones in the south and over Riyadh … as well as two cruise missiles over the Red Sea,’’ coalition spokesperson Turki al-Malki wrote on X. He added that a ballistic missile had also been intercepted over Yanbu, the kingdom’s main oil terminal on the Red Sea.
In a social media post, the Australian embassy urged its nationals to ‘‘postpone any planned travel to Saudi Arabia, including for religious reasons.’’
October typically marks the start of the high season for pilgrimages to Mecca and other major events as summer temperatures subside. The embassy also advised Australians wishing to leave the country to do so ‘‘as long as commercial flights remain available.’’ Those staying were urged to consider taking shelter with adequate supplies of food and water.
On Thursday, the Houthis had already carried out a deadly attack in Aden against the headquarters of Yemen’s internationally recognized government, specifically targeting a command center belonging to the Saudi-led coalition. The attack killed five people and injured 16.
In a joint statement, the 15 members of the UN Security Council ‘‘strongly condemned the continued and intensified Houthi attacks against the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’’ and against ‘‘commercial shipping in the Red Sea and the Bab al-Mandeb Strait.’’ They also reaffirmed, as they had in September, ‘‘the inherent right of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to self-defense, in accordance with international law.’’
After several years of relative calm, the large-scale resumption of the conflict in Yemen in July 2026 opened a new front in the Middle East and put Saudi Arabia to the test.
Meanwhile, Yemen, the poorest country on the Arabian Peninsula, faces the threat of a ‘‘humanitarian catastrophe,’’ warned Al-Khidir Daloum, the country director of the World Food Programme (WFP).
