Archive · 21 Aug 2026
Houthis Claim Drone Attacks on Saudi Airport, Aramco Facility
The Houthis are an armed group in Yemen.
They said they sent drones toward an airport and an oil-company facility in Saudi Arabia.
The targets were in the Najran region, near Yemen.
Their spokesperson said the attacks achieved their goals.
The Houthis said they were responding to alleged Saudi drone activity over Yemen.
Saudi Arabia and Aramco had not confirmed the claims or reported damage.
Yemen’s government forces also said they carried out 81 operations against Houthi positions.
The reports show that fighting between the Houthis and their opponents is getting worse.
Yemen’s Houthi group claimed it used drones to target Najran Airport and an Aramco facility in southern Saudi Arabia.
Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Saree said both operations achieved their objectives, but gave no details about casualties or damage.
The Houthis said the strikes responded to alleged Saudi drone incursions over Yemen’s northern Saada province.
Saudi authorities and Aramco had not immediately commented on the claims, which were not independently confirmed.
The claims came amid escalating Yemen fighting, including reported Saudi shipping restrictions, Houthi attacks and 81 government operations against Houthi positions.
- Who
- Yemen’s Houthi group, with the claims announced by military spokesperson Yahya Saree; Saudi and Yemeni government forces are also involved in the broader fighting.
- What
- The Houthis claimed two drone attacks targeting a sensitive site at Najran Airport and an Aramco facility.
- When
- The claims and the reported government operations were made on Thursday; the articles also describe developments since July 20 and fighting that intensified last month.
- Where
- Najran in southern Saudi Arabia, and Saada province and other fronts in Yemen.
- Why
- The Houthis said the attacks were retaliation for alleged Saudi drone incursions over Saada; the claims occurred amid escalating conflict between the Houthis, Saudi Arabia and Yemen’s government forces.
Houthi Claims
Saudi and Yemeni Government Position
Whether the attacks succeeded
Houthi Claims
Yahya Saree said the two drone operations achieved their objectives and targeted Najran Airport and an Aramco facility.
Saudi and Yemeni Government Position
There was no immediate confirmation from Saudi authorities or Aramco, and the reports provided no independent verification of damage or casualties.
Reason for the strikes
Houthi Claims
The Houthis said the attacks were carried out in response to alleged Saudi drone incursions over Yemen’s Saada province.
Saudi and Yemeni Government Position
The articles report the Houthi explanation but provide no Saudi response to the allegation.
Broader military activity
Houthi Claims
The Houthis have claimed attacks on Saudi ships, energy facilities and airports and announced a ban on Saudi shipping.
Saudi and Yemeni Government Position
Yemeni government forces said they conducted 81 operations against Houthi positions in response to repeated attacks on government forces and civilian infrastructure; the Houthis had not commented on that claim.
- Claimed targets
- Najran Airport and an Aramco facility
- Reported weapon
- Drones
- Houthi spokesperson
- Yahya Saree
- Location
- Najran region, southern Saudi Arabia, near the Yemeni border
- Saudi response
- No immediate comment from Saudi authorities or Aramco was reported
- Government operations
- Yemeni government forces said they carried out 81 operations against Houthi positions over 24 hours
- Maritime restriction
- The Houthis announced a ban on Saudi shipping on July 20
