Houthis Claim Strike on Saudi Typhoon Jet, 42 Saudi Attacks in Yemen

SANNA/RIYADH (Terror Monitor) — Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi rebels have claimed that they struck a Saudi Air Force Eurofighter Typhoon with a surface-to-air missile over Yemen’s northern Saada province, while also claiming a fresh ballistic missile attack on King Khalid International Airport in the Saudi capital, Riyadh, amid an escalating campaign against Saudi military, aviation and energy infrastructure.

Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Saree announced the claims shortly after midnight on Thursday, saying the group had directly hit the Saudi fighter jet and that it may have crashed.

However, Saudi authorities had not immediately commented on the reported aircraft strike, and there was no independent confirmation that the jet had been damaged or brought down.

According to Houthi-linked media, the group also launched a ballistic missile at Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport, claiming that the strike was accurate and directly hit its intended target.

The latest claims come as Saudi Arabia faces repeated missile and drone attacks that have disrupted aviation, damaged residential property and heightened concerns about the security of the kingdom’s oil infrastructure.

Houthis Claim Attacks on Saudi Military Positions

In his statement, Saree also claimed that Houthi forces launched three ballistic missiles at gatherings of Saudi forces in the Ras al-Arah and Al-Mudaribah areas.

He alleged that the strikes caused casualties and damaged several military vehicles. The claims could not be independently verified, and no immediate Saudi military assessment of the alleged attacks was available.

Houthi-affiliated media also reported Saudi air and missile strikes on the Yemeni capital, Sanaa.

The latest exchanges reflect an intensification of hostilities between the Houthis and Saudi Arabia, which supports Yemen’s internationally recognised government in its conflict with the movement.

The Houthis have portrayed their attacks as retaliation for Saudi military operations against positions under their control in Yemen.

Saudi Air Defences Intercept Ballistic Missile Over Riyadh

Saudi authorities confirmed that air defences intercepted and destroyed a ballistic missile targeting Riyadh on Wednesday.

According to the Saudi Civil Defence spokesperson, debris from the intercepted missile fell in a residential area, injuring a resident of Arab nationality and causing limited damage to a house and a vehicle.

Emergency teams responded to the incident, and authorities said established procedures were implemented to deal with the falling debris.

The incident followed an earlier interception involving two cruise missiles over Riyadh. Saudi Civil Defence said debris from those missiles injured four people, including two women, a man and a child, and caused limited damage to 15 residential properties.

The repeated interceptions have highlighted the continuing threat posed by missile attacks against the Saudi capital, even when air defence systems destroy incoming projectiles before they reach their intended targets.

Saudi authorities have maintained heightened security measures as the attacks continue.

Houthis Claim 42 Saudi Strikes Across Yemen

Saree alleged that Saudi warplanes carried out 42 air and missile attacks over the preceding 24 hours, targeting areas including Sanaa, Taiz, Lahj, Marib, Amran and Mayyun Island.

According to the Houthi spokesperson, the attacks hit civilian infrastructure and other facilities. The group further claimed that Saudi Arabia had carried out 2,323 attacks since the latest escalation began.

These figures and the allegations concerning damage to civilian facilities have not been independently verified.

The Houthis also warned that continued air and missile attacks on Mayyun Island could threaten international maritime shipping routes, holding Saudi Arabia responsible for what they described as the potential consequences.

Mayyun Island, also known as Perim Island, occupies a strategic position in the Bab al-Mandab Strait, a vital maritime passage connecting the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden and the wider Indian Ocean.

Any further escalation around the island could raise concerns about commercial shipping through one of the world's most important maritime corridors.

Yemeni Government Forces Claim More Than 2,300 Operations Against Houthis

Meanwhile, the internationally recognised Yemeni government’s military spokesperson said government-aligned forces had carried out 2,309 operations against the Houthis under an offensive known as Operation Fajr al-Yemen, or Dawn of Yemen.

According to the spokesperson, the operations had resulted in approximately 1,250 Houthi personnel being killed or wounded, while more than 460 military vehicles and pieces of equipment were destroyed or disabled.

The spokesperson said the operations involved warplanes, drones, field artillery, rocket launchers and sniper units. Targets reportedly included Houthi defensive positions, command centres, troop concentrations and military supply routes.

The military also reported continued operations against Houthi reinforcements and supply convoys in Taiz province.

These figures were released by the Yemeni government’s military and have not been independently verified. They should therefore be treated as claims by a party involved in the conflict rather than independently established casualty and equipment-loss figures.

The competing claims illustrate the widening scope of the conflict, with the Houthis striking targets inside Saudi Arabia while Saudi-backed Yemeni forces continue operations against the movement on multiple fronts.

Saudi Aramco Headquarters Damaged in Attack

The latest developments follow an attack on Saudi Aramco’s headquarters in Dhahran, in the kingdom’s Eastern Province.

Saudi Arabia’s Energy Ministry said an attack on an administrative building at the oil company’s compound caused a limited fire, with no casualties reported.

However, sources familiar with the incident told Reuters that the building sustained substantial damage and that the fire spread across several floors. The sources said the upper floors of a tower were particularly affected, including areas housing senior executives’ offices.

According to the sources, Aramco continued its operations despite the damage, with some employees working remotely and certain responsibilities shifted to the company’s other offices around the world.

Aramco’s headquarters complex plays an important role in overseeing the company’s global oil operations, including production facilities, pipelines, refineries and other critical infrastructure.

The reported damage has raised concerns about the vulnerability of Saudi Arabia’s energy infrastructure as the Houthis expand their attacks beyond military targets and airports.

The group had also claimed attacks against Aramco facilities in Dhahran and Riyadh, alongside the renewed missile attack on King Khalid International Airport.

Riyadh Airport Closure Disrupts Air Travel

Repeated attacks have severely disrupted air travel to and from the Saudi capital.

Saudi authorities extended the suspension of operations at King Khalid International Airport until Saturday, October 17, citing the need to complete safety and operational-readiness procedures.

The airport, one of Saudi Arabia’s principal international gateways, has faced repeated missile threats as the Houthis continue to target locations across the kingdom.

Airlines have cancelled or disrupted flights, forcing passengers to reconsider travel arrangements and leaving some travellers searching for alternative routes.

Reuters reported that the repeated attacks have also affected international visitors and religious pilgrims, some of whom have had to alter their travel plans or seek alternative routes through neighbouring countries.

The closure has added to the economic and logistical consequences of the conflict, particularly as Saudi Arabia seeks to maintain international business and tourism activity.

Six Kings Slam Tennis Tournament Postponed

The deteriorating security situation has also affected major sporting events scheduled in Saudi Arabia.

Organisers have postponed the Six Kings Slam exhibition tennis tournament, which was due to take place in Riyadh from October 21 to 24.

The event, featuring leading players including Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz, has been rescheduled for December 27–30, 2026.

Saudi organisers cited organisational and logistical challenges associated with staging the tournament. The postponement came amid heightened security concerns following the attacks on Riyadh’s airport.

The Saudi Pro League has also postponed several fixtures involving teams based in Riyadh. The affected schedule includes the highly anticipated match between Al-Ahli and Al-Nassr, the club represented by Cristiano Ronaldo. The match has been rescheduled for March 6, 2027, according to reporting by Al Jazeera and AFP.

The changes demonstrate how the escalating conflict is affecting Saudi Arabia’s efforts to host major international sporting and entertainment events.

Investment Conference Moves Towards Hybrid Format

Saudi Arabia’s annual investment conference, widely known as the “Davos of the Desert,” is also expected to adopt a hybrid format, allowing some participants to attend remotely.

Organisers and authorities have been considering alternative travel arrangements for international participants amid the disruption to air transport.

The World Petroleum Congress in Riyadh has likewise faced complications, with some senior figures in the global energy industry reportedly unable to attend in person or opting to participate remotely.

The disruptions come at a sensitive time for Saudi Arabia, which has invested heavily in tourism, international conferences, entertainment and sports as part of its economic diversification programme.

Continued attacks on airports and energy infrastructure could undermine business confidence and complicate the kingdom’s efforts to present itself as a secure destination for international investment.

Escalation Raises Concerns Over Regional Security

The latest Houthi claims come amid a renewed phase of the Yemen conflict following the breakdown of a fragile truce that had helped reduce fighting in previous years.

Saudi Arabia intervened in Yemen in 2015 to support the internationally recognised government against the Houthis, who seized the capital, Sanaa, in 2014.

A United Nations-brokered truce reached in 2022 brought a period of relative calm, although it did not resolve the underlying conflict. Fighting has since intensified, with attacks increasingly affecting strategic sites and civilian infrastructure.

The current escalation has raised concerns about the potential impact on regional stability, international aviation, energy supplies and maritime shipping.

The Houthis have threatened further attacks on Saudi airports and oil facilities, while Saudi Arabia and its allies continue military operations against Houthi-controlled areas in Yemen.

As of early Thursday, the Houthis’ claim that they had struck a Saudi Typhoon fighter jet remained unconfirmed, while Saudi authorities had confirmed the interception of a ballistic missile over Riyadh that injured a resident and caused limited property damage. The reported aircraft strike, alleged Houthi attacks on Saudi military positions and claims of extensive Saudi strikes across Yemen could not be independently verified.