Houthi forces appeared to make slow gains in south-west Yemen on Wednesday, nearing Taiz and striking the airport in Aden with a missile and an explosive as a plane from Cairo was due to land.
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Key facts
- Houthi forces appeared to advance slowly toward the city of Taiz.
- A missile and an explosive were fired toward the airport in Aden, the main hub of the Saudi-backed government.
- The explosive hit the airport moments before a plane from Cairo was due to land.
- The flight was diverted to Jeddah and a review of flight safety in Aden was launched.
- British ambassador to Yemen Abda Sharif said the attack could have endangered thousands of people.
Houthi forces appeared to be making slow advances on Wednesday in south-west Yemen, approaching the city of Taiz, according to the Guardian. The movement came alongside a direct attack on the airport in Aden, the chief international hub of the Saudi-backed government.
The group’s fighters fired a missile and an explosive toward the Aden airport. The explosive struck the key facility moments before a plane was due to land, the Guardian reported.
The targeted aircraft was arriving from Cairo. The strike forced the flight to be diverted to Jeddah, and it prompted a review about the safety of flights in Aden.
The British ambassador to Yemen, Abda Sharif, said the attack could have endangered thousands of people, highlighting the risk posed by striking an active civilian airport.
Aden serves as the principal base and international gateway for Yemen’s Saudi-backed government, making any attack on its airport a significant development in the ongoing conflict. The reported advance toward Taiz, a major city in the south-west, adds to the pressure on government-held areas.
The Guardian described the Houthi gains as slow, and the extent of their territorial progress remained unclear based on the available account of Wednesday’s events.
Why it matters
An attack on Aden's airport, a key civilian and government hub, raises the risk to travelers and signals escalating pressure on Yemen's Saudi-backed government. Advances toward Taiz could shift the balance in a long-running conflict with wide regional implications.
Frequently asked questions
What happened at Aden airport?
According to the Guardian, Houthi forces fired a missile and an explosive toward the airport, with the explosive hitting the facility moments before a plane from Cairo was due to land.
Was the flight affected?
Yes. The flight from Cairo was diverted to Jeddah, and the incident led to a review of the safety of flights in Aden.
Who commented on the attack?
The British ambassador to Yemen, Abda Sharif, said the attack could have endangered thousands of people.
Timeline
- Houthi forces appear to make slow advance in south-west Yemen
The Guardian World: Group’s fighters hit key airport in Aden with explosive moments before plane from Cairo was due to land Houthi forces appeared to be making slow advances on Wednesday in south-west Yemen, approaching the city of Taiz and firing a missile and an explosive towards the airport in Ad