Missile attack on airport leaves 26 injured

Missile attack on airport leaves 26 injured
By Christian Fleetwood


A Yemen-based Houthi rebel attack in Saudi Arabia on the country’s Abha airport has reportedly wounded 26 people.

According to a statement by the Saudi-UAE-led coalition fighting the rebels, three women and two children were among the wounded, and were of Saudi, Yemeni and Indian nationalities.

Eight people have been taken to hospital while most were treated on site, according to Al Jazeera.

The coalition said the projectile hit the arrivals hall at Abha airport – which is 200 kilometres north of the border with Yemen and serves domestic and regional routes – and caused “material damage”.

The attack could reportedly amount to a war crime, while the coalition said it proved that the Houthis have acquired “advanced weapons from Iran”, it said, vowing to take “urgent and timely” measures in response.

Iran denied arming the Houthis.

The rebels on Wednesday insisted that they had the “right to defend themselves” in the face of “five years of Saudi-led bombing” and an air and sea blockade.

Following the missile attack by Houthi rebels, the Saudi-led coalition said it would “take stern action” to deter them.

Turki al-Malki, a coalition spokesperson, told Al Jazeera the missile hit “proves this terrorist militia’s acquisition of new advanced weapons and the continuation of the Iranian regime’s support and waging of cross-border terrorism”.

Houthi rebels have reportedly stepped up missile and drone attacks across the border in recent weeks, following persistent coalition bombing since March 2015 – exacting a heavy civilian death toll.

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