Ankara: Yemen's Houthis on Monday claimed to have carried out a large-scale missile and drone attack on a Saudi air base in the southern city of Khamis Mushait. Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree said in a statement that the group targeted King Khalid Air Base with dozens of ballistic missiles and drones.

According to Anadolu Agency, the Houthis claimed the attack targeted aircraft hangars, radars, runways, ammunition depots, and other military facilities, causing 'significant losses' at the base. The operation was reported to be in response to Saudi airstrikes in Yemen, with allegations that Saudi F-15 and Typhoon fighter jets had conducted over 300 strikes across various Yemeni provinces in the past five days.

There has been no immediate Saudi confirmation regarding the damage at the air base. Saudi Arabia's Civil Defense issued an alert in the Khamis Mushait governorate but later announced that 'the danger has passed,' urging residents to adhere to Civil Defense instructions and avoid gathering or filming the area.

The Houthis have vowed to continue their attacks inside Saudi Arabia as long as Saudi military operations in Yemen persist, warning of 'broader and more severe' operations in response to any new assaults. This attack marks a significant escalation in the ongoing conflict between Saudi Arabia and the Houthis, with both sides exchanging attacks in recent days.

Saudi Arabia has increased its airstrikes on Houthi-held areas in Yemen, while the Houthis have launched missile and drone attacks targeting southern Saudi cities and energy facilities. Last week, Saudi authorities reported 73 civilian injuries from Houthi attacks in Abha, Khamis Mushait, Jazan, and Najran, with the assaults also causing fires and temporary disruptions at energy facilities in the kingdom. The conflict has been ongoing since the Houthis captured Yemen's capital Sanaa in 2014, engaging in a prolonged battle with a Saudi-led coalition.