Dubai: The Saudi-led coalition in Yemen said 26 people have been wounded as Yemen's Houthi rebels targeted an airport in the kingdom's southwestern town of Abha, the state-run Saudi Press Agency reported.
Coalition spokesman Turki Al Malki said in a statement a projectile struck the arrival hall of Abha's airport in the southern part of the kingdom near its border with Yemen on Wednesday.
The coalition said the attack could amount to a war crime. It would take "urgent and timely" measures in response, it said.
"This attack also proves this terrorist militia's acquisition of new special weapons; the continuation of the Iranian regime's support and practice of cross-border terrorism...," the coalition's English-language statement said.
He says three women and two children are among the 26 hurt in the attack.
Eight were hospitalised and the rest sustained minor injuries. The Houthis earlier on Wednesday claimed they'd launched a cruise missile at the Abha airport.
Saudi Arabia has been at war against the Iranian-allied Houthis in Yemen since 2015. The kingdom accuses Iran of arming the rebels, which Iran denies.
The attack on Wednesday comes as Japan's prime minister is expected in Iran to mediate between Tehran and Washington amid escalating tensions in the Gulf regions.
UAE condemns attack
The UAE has condemned the Houthi missile attack targeting Saudi Arabia's Abha International Airport
The UAE strongly denounced such terrorist act, which is a new proof of Houthi’s hostile and terrorist approaches that seek to undermine the regional security and stability.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation renewed its solidarity with Saudi Arabia and its support to all measures taken to thwart any threat to the security and stability of the Kingdom. The statement expressed the UAE’s support to all actions taken to uproot extremism and terrorism and protect Saudi citizens and residents. .
Wishing the injured a speedy recovery, the statement added that the security of both the UAE and Saudi Arabia is indivisible and that any threat or danger facing the Kingdom is considered to be a threat to security and stability in the UAE.
