Two missiles struck the airport in Aden, Yemen's main port city, on Friday night, the Associated Press reported, citing police. It's the second Aden airport attack this month, and it came just a day after a deadly strike on the city's presidential palace.
Police blamed the Iran-backed Houthi rebels, who control much of northern Yemen including the capital, Sanaa. There was no immediate claim of responsibility, and police said no casualties were reported.
Breaking · Yemen
Aden's Airport Hit Again
Contrail
What Was Hit
Details are still coming in. A security official and an air traffic controller told the AP that the missiles hit an area of the airport hosting a military unit aligned with Yemen's government, which is backed by Saudi Arabia. It wasn't immediately clear how much damage the airport suffered or whether flights would be affected.
Why Aden's Airport Matters
Aden is where Yemen's internationally recognized government has been based since 2015, and its airport is one of the main ways in and out of the parts of the country the Houthis don't control. Flights from there are a lifeline for Yemenis traveling abroad for work, study or medical care.
That makes it a target. On October 7, the Houthis fired ballistic missiles and drones at the same airport. One missile landed near the runway minutes before a flight from Cairo was due, according to Yemen's Transport Ministry. Officials diverted the incoming flight to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, and moved two parked planes out of the danger zone. No one was hurt.
A Week of Escalation
Friday's strike is part of a fast-widening conflict. Fighting in Yemen resumed last month after a four-year lull, and the Houthis have since attacked both Yemen's government and Saudi Arabia, including Riyadh's main airport on October 10.
On Thursday, a Houthi missile hit the presidential palace complex in Aden, killing at least five security personnel and injuring 16, according to Yemen's Health Ministry. It was the first time the Houthis had targeted the palace since the fighting resumed.
What It Means for Travelers
Very few travelers outside the region fly to Aden, and the US State Department already tells Americans not to travel to Yemen. But for Yemenis, the airport is one of the few reliable routes out of the country, and repeated attacks put that route at risk.
Anyone with a flight to or from Aden in the coming days should check directly with their airline before heading to the airport.
