Yemen and Saudi fighting Rival claims, allied pledge

Oct 5–6

CCTV cites Yemeni media reporting government gains on October 5 around Bab al-Mandab, Dhubab Airport and Mocha, with operations continuing. Houthi spokesman Yahya says on October 6 that the group retains recently captured territory and continues attacks. The Saudi-led coalition claims strikes on Houthi targets in Hodeidah and thwarting an attack on southern Red Sea waterways. Explosions are reported in Riyadh overnight October 5–6; the Houthis claim missile and drone attacks on King Khalid International Airport, a Saudi Aramco refinery in Rabigh, Abha International Airport and the Aqifa military camp, and declare Saudi airspace an operational zone. The report then describes an October 5 emergency Mecca Defense Alliance committee meeting of Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Türkiye. Their joint statement commits to collective defence and rapid agreed-force deployment to Saudi Arabia and condemns attempted attacks on Mecca and Medina and continuing attacks on Saudi Arabia without identifying those responsible. Territorial and strike claims are attributed; troop arrival is not established.

CCTV reports Riyadh explosions from the evening of October 5 into early October 6 and Houthi claims of missile/drone strikes on King Khalid International Airport, Aramco's Rabigh refinery, Abha International Airport and the Aqifa military camp, together with a Saudi-airspace operational-zone declaration. Vremya's October 6 report describes King Khalid Airport as on fire, attributes airport attacks to Houthi missiles and drones and carries Saree's direct airline warning excluding Mecca and Medina. These are source claims; named damage and responsibility are not independently verified. Vremya's separately described Abha attack has unresolved timing and is not assumed identical to the overnight Abha claim because October 5 and 6 claims both exist.