Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthi rebels claimed on the 22nd that they had struck Saudi Arabia's defense ministry and airports.
In a statement, Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree said the group had carried out four major military operations deep inside Saudi territory over the previous 48 hours using ballistic missiles and drones. The first target was the defense ministry headquarters in the Saudi capital, Riyadh, which was hit precisely, the spokesman said, adding that the group then struck King Fahd International Airport in the eastern city of Dammam, paralyzing air traffic.
Saudi Arabia's General Authority of Civil Aviation said a day earlier that an air attack on King Fahd International Airport had killed two people and injured eight. Videos circulating online show missiles falling on the airport in the middle of the night followed by large explosions, though it has not been confirmed that the footage is from the attack.
Saree said the rebels had hit a facility of state-run oil company Aramco in Yanbu, setting off a fire, and had also conducted a precision strike on Abha International Airport. The Houthis said the attacks were a direct response to hostile acts and escalating military tension by the Saudi-led coalition over the past 100 days.
The spokesman also accused Saudi Arabia of targeting civilian infrastructure, saying the "criminal Saudi enemies" had conducted more than 2,900 air and missile attacks that left more than 562 casualties, including women and children.
If Saudi Arabia follows through on its threats, the consequences will be catastrophic and unpredictable, Saree said, adding that the group would have no choice but to exercise major military options it had not originally wanted to use and that Saudi Arabia alone would bear responsibility for all the fallout.
Saree said the Houthis would continue operations targeting Saudi troop concentrations and sites deep inside the country until Saudi attacks stop and the blockade on Yemen is lifted.