Yemeni Houthi rebels reportedly attacked an airport in neighboring Saudi Arabia with armed drones. The goal was the airport of the coastal resort of Jisan not far from the common border, reported the rebel-oriented television station al-Masirah today on Twitter.
In retaliation for the military „aggression“ from there, they attacked, among other things, runways and maintenance stations for drones. An independent confirmation of the attacks did not exist at first.
In Yemen, a military coalition led by Saudi Arabia fights alongside the internationally recognized government against the Shiite Houthi rebels. These are supported by Iran. In 2014, the rebels captured the capital Sana’a and large parts of northern Yemen. Saudi Arabia wants to repress Iran’s influence in Yemen and other states in the region.
UNO: Even big drones in action
The Houthi rebels are increasingly using drones. In addition to smaller models that are sold as toys, according to UN experts, they have been using larger drones for several months. According to a UN report from January, these have a range of up to 1,500 kilometers and a top speed of 250 kilometers per hour. This would also bring the capitals of Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) from Yemen.
Last month, the Houthis claimed a drone attack on two oil pumping stations in Saudi Arabia. In January, they used drones to attack a military parade of the Yemeni government and reportedly killed six people, including a high-ranking officer.
