Yemen’s Houthi fighters claimed a drone attack on an airport in Saudi Arabia, which wounded at least 12 people, the latest strike to heighten security concerns in the oil-exporting Persian Gulf.
Authorities destroyed the drone fired at the international airport in the southern city of Abha, Saudi Arabia’s official SPA news agency reported Thursday, but shrapnel caused some injuries. The Iranian-backed Houthi group said in a Twitter post it carried out the attack. Houthi fighters have repeatedly used drones to attack Saudi Arabia, including Abha’s airport.
The group has also hit the United Arab Emirates with drones and missiles in recent weeks, prompting the U.S. to deploy a squadron of fighter jets and reposition a warship to help deter the attacks.
The rising tensions in Yemen’s war — where a Saudi-led coalition that includes the UAE is spearheading a bombing campaign against the Iranian-backed Houthis — featured in a phone call Wednesday between U.S. President Joe Biden and Saudi King Salman.
