Yemen’s transport ministry warns of severe threats to civil aviation after second ballistic attack in October leaves civilians injured and forces flight suspensions.
ADEN, Oct 29, 2026 : Ballistic missile strikes hit Aden International Airport on Wednesday, halting commercial flight operations and injuring civilians after Yemen’s Houthi rebels issued an evacuation warning for the facility, security and aviation officials said.
Ballistic missile strikes hit Aden International Airport on Wednesday, halting commercial flight operations and injuring civilians after Yemen’s Houthi rebels issued an evacuation warning for the facility, security and aviation officials said.
The assault marked the second time this month that the vital southern transport hub came under fire. A local police official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said incoming projectiles targeted an area managed by Saudi forces inside the airport perimeter.
Yemen’s Ministry of Transport confirmed that two ballistic missiles struck within the airport grounds on Wednesday, October 28, inflicting structural damage and causing injuries among civilians on site. Aviation authorities immediately suspended all incoming and outgoing flights to assess the damage and ensure traveler safety.
The strikes follow an earlier barrage on October 7, when Houthi forces launched at least two ballistic missiles alongside multiple drones toward the facility. During that incident, a missile detonated close to the primary runway just minutes before an inbound commercial flight from Cairo was scheduled to touch down, forcing air traffic controllers to divert the airliner to Jeddah in neighboring Saudi Arabia.
Aden International Airport serves as the primary international gateway for areas under the control of Yemen’s internationally recognized government. Beyond commercial passenger traffic, the facility operates as an essential conduit for international humanitarian missions, medical transfers, and emergency relief supplies destined for southern provinces.
In an official statement, the Transport Ministry condemned the strikes as a direct violation of international aviation protocols, warning that deliberate targeting of operational terminals jeopardizes civilian lives and threatens to cut off the region’s fragile aerial link to the outside world.
Government military spokespersons indicated that emergency response teams and technical inspectors were deployed across the airfield to clear debris and inspect tarmac surfaces. Authorities have not yet confirmed when normal flight schedules will resume.
