Saudi strikes hit Sanaa airport and Bab al-Mandeb in Yemen escalation
Synopsis
Saudi-led coalition warplanes struck Sanaa's international airport, the Bab al-Mandeb Strait, and three northern provinces on 10 October in one of the sharpest single-day escalations of Yemen's twelve-year conflict. With Houthis simultaneously targeting Saudi airports with missiles and drones, the war is spreading beyond Yemen's borders — and the world's busiest shipping lane is once again in the crossfire.
Key Takeaways
Saudi-led coalition struck Sanaa International Airport with four airstrikes on 10 October 2026 , according to Houthi-run al-Masirah TV .
Four further airstrikes hit the Bab al-Mandeb Strait , a critical chokepoint linking the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden .
Strikes also hit Saada (border district of Razih), Amran (Harf Sufyan district), and a telecom network in Hajjah province.
No immediate casualty figures were reported from any of the targeted locations.
The Houthis have simultaneously escalated missile and drone attacks on targets inside Saudi Arabia .
Yemen's conflict began in late 2014 ; the Saudi-led coalition intervened in 2015 in support of the Aden-based internationally recognised government .
Saudi-led coalition forces launched a fresh wave of air and missile strikes across Houthi-held areas of Yemen on Saturday, 10 October 2026, hitting Sanaa International Airport, the strategically vital Bab al-Mandeb Strait, and multiple northern provinces, according to Houthi-run broadcaster al-Masirah TV. No immediate casualty figures were available from the targeted sites.
Strikes at Sanaa Airport and Bab al-Mandeb
Al-Masirah TV reported four airstrikes on Sanaa International Airport, the main aviation hub in the Houthi-held capital, though details on damage or casualties remained unconfirmed at the time of reporting. A separate four airstrikes struck the Bab al-Mandeb area in southwestern Yemen.
The strait — connecting the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden — is one of the world's most critical maritime chokepoints, carrying a significant share of global shipping traffic. Control over, or the ability to disrupt, the Bab al-Mandeb has made it a recurring flashpoint in the Yemen conflict.
Northern Provinces Also Targeted
In the northwestern province of Saada, which borders Saudi Arabia and serves as a major Houthi stronghold, Saudi missile fire reportedly struck villages in the border district of Razih, al-Masirah said, without providing casualty information. Separately, four missiles hit Harf Sufyan district in the northern province of Amran, while three airstrikes targeted a telecommunications network in the town of Al-Mahabishah in the northwestern province of Hajjah.
Sharp Escalation Along Multiple Fronts
The strikes reflect a marked intensification of Saudi air operations against Houthi-held territory, coinciding with renewed ground fighting between the Houthis and Yemeni government forces — backed by the Saudi-led Arab coalition — particularly around Bab al-Mandeb. Notably, the escalation has crossed Yemen's borders, with the Houthis reportedly stepping up missile and drone attacks on airports and other targets inside Saudi Arabia in recent weeks.
A Conflict Entering Its Second Decade
Yemen's civil war entered its twelfth year having claimed hundreds of thousands of lives and displacing millions. The conflict traces back to late 2014, when the Houthi movement seized Sanaa and much of northern Yemen. A Saudi-led coalition intervened in 2015 in support of the internationally recognised Yemeni government, which is now headquartered in the southern port city of Aden. Ceasefire efforts, including a UN-brokered truce, have repeatedly stalled, and the latest surge in strikes signals that a durable settlement remains elusive.
With both sides intensifying operations, the international community's attention is likely to return to the Bab al-Mandeb's global shipping implications — and the humanitarian toll on Yemen's civilian population.
Point of View
Making this far more than a regional conflict. Meanwhile, Houthi cross-border strikes on Saudi airports suggest neither side is close to a threshold that forces de-escalation. With UN-mediated truces repeatedly collapsing, the twelfth year of the war risks becoming its most internationalised.
NationPress
10 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did Saudi-led coalition forces strike in Yemen on 10 October 2026?
Saudi-led coalition forces struck Sanaa International Airport with four airstrikes, the Bab al-Mandeb Strait with four further strikes, and several northern provinces including Saada, Amran, and Hajjah, according to Houthi-run al-Masirah TV. No immediate casualty figures were available from any of the targeted sites.
Why is Bab al-Mandeb strategically important?
Bab al-Mandeb is a narrow strait connecting the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden, making it one of the world's most critical maritime chokepoints for global shipping and energy trade. Military activity in the area directly threatens tanker routes and can affect international oil and goods prices.
How long has the Yemen conflict been going on?
Yemen's civil war began in late 2014 when the Houthi movement seized the capital Sanaa and much of northern Yemen. A Saudi-led coalition intervened in 2015 in support of the internationally recognised Yemeni government, now based in Aden — making 2026 the conflict's twelfth year.
Are the Houthis retaliating against Saudi Arabia?
Yes. According to reports, the Houthis have stepped up missile and drone attacks against airports and other targets inside Saudi Arabia as part of the current escalation. The cross-border exchange marks a significant widening of the conflict's geographic scope.
Who controls Sanaa and who controls the Yemeni government?
The Houthi movement controls Sanaa, the capital, and much of northern Yemen. The internationally recognised Yemeni government, backed by the Saudi-led Arab coalition, is headquartered in the southern port city of Aden.
