Conflict & Security
Najran airport operations suspended after Houthi claim
Operations were suspended on Tuesday at Najran Airport in southern Saudi Arabia after Yemen's Houthis said they had attacked the site with a drone, a regional source with knowledge of the matter told AFP.
The source said the airport's main radar was hit, affecting operations. The airport website listed the status of flights scheduled for the next few days as “unknown”.
Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree said the rebels had “successfully targeted a sensitive target belonging to the Saudi enemy” at Najran Airport. He said the strike was in response to what he described as Saudi drone violations of airspace over Yemen's Saada and Hajjah governorates.
Saudi Arabia had not issued any comment on the claimed attack.
The small airport is near the Yemeni border and has one terminal handling a few flights per day.
The Houthis declared a maritime blockade of Saudi Arabia last month and have since claimed attacks on oil tankers and infrastructure. Saudi Arabia has retaliated with strikes targeting Houthi positions.
Fighting erupted last month, marking the first time Saudi Arabia and the Houthis have traded heavy fire since a 2022 truce. A Saudi-led military coalition had fought the Houthis since 2015, after the rebels seized Sanaa and forced out the internationally recognised government.
Update
Operations were suspended at Najran Airport on Tuesday, according to a regional source with knowledge of the matter.
The airport website listed flights scheduled for the next few days as having an unknown status.
The source says Saudi Arabia has retaliated with strikes targeting Houthi positions.
Source note: AFP news report published on 4 August 2026 at 15:27:22 UTC.
Update
A regional source with knowledge of the matter told AFP the airport's main radar was hit, affecting operations.
Saudi Arabia had not issued any comment on the claimed attack at the time of the item.
Source note: AFP news report published on 4 August 2026 at 11:26:15 UTC.
Update
The Houthis identified the site as Najran Airport in southern Saudi Arabia.
Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree said the group used a drone.
Saree said the target was a sensitive Saudi target at the airport.
Saree said the strike was in response to what he called Saudi drone violations of airspace over Saada and Hajjah governorates.
Source note: AFP news report published on 4 August 2026 at 10:26:25 UTC.
Uncertainty notes
Saudi Arabia had not commented on the claimed attack.
The full extent of disruption to flights was not established beyond the airport website listing scheduled flights as “unknown”.
Source
AFP news report published on .