Saudi-led coalition launches wide-scale Yemen offensive after Houthi strike on Riyadh
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The Saudi-led coalition said on October 9, 2026 it destroyed 136 Houthi targets in a wide-scale operation after a deadly Houthi strike on Riyadh's airport.
What Happened
The Saudi-led coalition in Yemen announced a wide-scale military operation against the Iran-aligned Houthi movement late on Friday, October 9, 2026. Coalition spokesman Turki al-Malki said strikes had destroyed 136 military targets in Houthi-held areas and that the coalition was working to dismantle and destroy the group's ballistic missile network. He said the coalition was giving air support to Yemen's government forces around the clock. The offensive followed a Houthi missile attack on Thursday, October 8, on King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, which Saudi Arabia said killed three Saudi nationals. The Houthis claimed that attack.
Key Facts
- The coalition announced the operation late on Friday, October 9, 2026; some reports date it to Saturday, October 10, local time.
- Spokesman Turki al-Malki said 136 military targets were destroyed and that the aim is to dismantle the Houthis' ballistic missile network.
- The trigger was a Houthi strike on Riyadh's King Khalid International Airport on October 8 that Saudi Arabia said killed three people.
- US President Donald Trump said he was "not happy" about the airport attack.
- A Saudi diplomat said Yemeni government forces, with coalition air support, had taken the Bab el-Mandeb Strait and Mayyun Island from the Houthis; this could not be independently confirmed.
- Houthi media reported that two people were killed in Saudi strikes on the airport in Sanaa, the Houthi-held capital.
Why It Matters
The clash is happening inside a wider regional war. The Houthis are aligned with Iran, which has been at war with the United States and Israel for months. A direct Houthi strike that killed people at the main airport of the Saudi capital marked a sharp escalation, and the size of the coalition's response shows Riyadh wants to remove the group's ability to fire long-range missiles, not just answer one attack.
The fight over the Bab el-Mandeb matters well beyond Yemen. The strait links the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden and is one of the world's key shipping lanes between Asia and Europe. In September, the Houthis seized Mayyun Island, also called Perim, which sits in the strait, giving them control of the area. If the Saudi claim that government forces have retaken it is confirmed, it would be a major shift in control of the waterway. Until then, shipping companies are likely to treat the route as highly dangerous.
For India, the stakes are direct. Ships carrying India's trade with Europe use the Red Sea route through the Bab el-Mandeb. Fighting around the Bab el-Mandeb, on top of the strain on the Strait of Hormuz from the Iran war, raises shipping and insurance costs and adds to pressure on oil prices, which already sit near $100 a barrel.
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| September 2026 | Houthis take Mayyun Island and the Bab el-Mandeb area |
| October 8, 2026 | Houthi missile strike on Riyadh airport kills three, Saudi Arabia says |
| October 9, 2026 | Coalition announces wide-scale operation, says 136 targets destroyed |
Impact
Short-term: More strikes and Houthi counter-attacks on Saudi territory are likely, and shipping through the southern Red Sea faces higher risk and cost.
Long-term: Control of the Bab el-Mandeb, and whether the Houthis keep their missile arsenal, will shape security on one of the world's main trade routes and the balance between Saudi Arabia and Iran's allies.
Who is affected: Civilians in Yemen and Saudi Arabia, shipping and energy companies using the Red Sea, and oil-importing countries including India.
Key Takeaway
After a deadly Houthi strike on Riyadh's airport, the Saudi-led coalition launched a wide-scale operation on October 9, 2026 that it says destroyed 136 Houthi targets, raising the stakes for Red Sea shipping.
Questions and Answers
Why did the Saudi-led coalition launch a new operation against the Houthis?
It followed a Houthi missile attack on October 8, 2026 on King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, which Saudi Arabia said killed three Saudi nationals.
What does the coalition say it has achieved?
Spokesman Turki al-Malki said strikes destroyed 136 military targets in Houthi-held areas and that the coalition aims to dismantle the group's ballistic missile network.
Has the Bab el-Mandeb Strait been retaken from the Houthis?
A Saudi diplomat said Yemeni government forces had taken the strait and Mayyun Island with coalition air support, but this had not been independently confirmed.
Why does this matter for India?
Ships carrying India's trade with Europe use the Red Sea route through the Bab el-Mandeb, so fighting around the Bab el-Mandeb raises shipping and insurance costs and adds pressure on oil prices.
Sourced and fact-checked by the Peepals Global Editorial Team
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Reported, fact-checked and published by the Peepals Global Editorial Team.
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