Coalition vows to dismantle Houthi capabilities after King Khalid airport attack

Spokesman for the Coalition to Restore Legitimacy in Yemen, Major General Turki Al-Maliki, said that the Houthi militia’s targeting of airports and civilian facilities poses a direct threat to the safety of civilians and travelers, and constitutes a clear violation of international humanitarian law.

Speaking at a press conference held today in Riyadh following the attack on King Khalid International Airport, Al-Maliki offered condolences to the families of the victims and wished a speedy recovery to the injured. He highlighted the dangers posed by the Houthi militia’s targeting of holy sites, civilians, and civilian infrastructure.

Al-Maliki condemned the terrorist acts carried out by the Houthi militia against civilians and civilian facilities in the Kingdom, including the attack on King Khalid International Airport, as part of a series of assaults on sites frequented daily by tens of thousands of innocent people.

Dismantling Houthi capabilities and strengthening defenses

The spokesman explained that attacks on Makkah and Madinah are part of a systematic hostile approach that threatens the security of pilgrims and visitors to the holy sites, stressing the importance of taking necessary measures to protect the Kingdom and its sacred places.

Al-Maliki noted that the Houthi militia has acquired advanced technology with the help of regional actors, becoming the first terrorist group to possess ballistic missiles, attack and suicide drones, and explosive-laden speedboats.

He added that the Joint Forces Command of the coalition has dismantled the network of mountain storage facilities established by the militia in Sanaa, Saada, and Amran, and destroyed several missile launch platforms. He praised the effectiveness of the Kingdom’s air defense systems in intercepting threats and thwarting attacks.

Ongoing measures to protect civilians and facilities

Al-Maliki affirmed that the Joint Forces Command of the coalition will continue to take necessary measures to counter Houthi threats and dismantle their offensive capabilities, including weapons depots and missile launch platforms.

He pointed out that the coalition has confirmed the Houthi militia’s use of civilian sites and vital resources for military purposes, including the central Al-Sabaha station in Sanaa, underground fuel depots, and dedicated tanks and piers for fuel transport and unloading in Hodeidah, Sanaa, and Dhamar.

Al-Maliki stressed the need for an immediate halt to all Houthi terrorist operations targeting civilians and civilian sites, including airports, ports, oil facilities, and infrastructure.