Aden (South24 Center)

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The Iran-aligned Houthi militia warned airlines on Monday (October 5) that Saudi airspace was unsafe and would become a theater of military operations, as Saudi Arabia intensified airstrikes in support of a new offensive against the group in Yemen.

In a statement carried by Houthi-controlled media, the group’s Humanitarian Operations Coordination Center—a platform that has regularly relayed Houthi warnings to ships transiting the Bab al-Mandeb Strait before they were targeted—attributed the warning to Saudi air attacks on Yemen. It exempted the airspace over Mecca and Madinah, saying both would remain safe from operations by its forces.

The center said Saudi airspace would remain unsafe for as long as what it described as “Saudi aggression” continued, and disclaimed responsibility for any consequences following the warning. It did not specify a timetable or identify airports or flight corridors that could be affected.

The announcement followed a separate advisory issued on September 30 by the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), recommending that airlines covered by the bulletin avoid a defined section of Saudi airspace at all altitudes and exercise caution elsewhere in the Jeddah Flight Information Region. The advisory remains valid until November 16 unless reviewed earlier.

The agency cited risks from missile and drone attacks, air-defense activity, possible misidentification of civilian aircraft and falling debris.

It said recent attacks had extended beyond southern Saudi Arabia to areas including Riyadh, Tabuk and Yanbu, while acknowledging Saudi measures to manage its airspace.

The Saudi government media office did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the Houthi warning, Reuters reported.

On Sunday, Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Sarea announced attacks on Saudi Aramco facilities in Riyadh and Khurais using ballistic missiles and drones, claiming the strikes had caused large fires. The extent of the damage could not be independently verified.

The warning coincided with Yemeni Presidential Leadership Council Chairman Rashad Al-Alimi’s announcement on Monday of Operation Dawn of Yemen, which he said aimed to restore state institutions and retake Sanaa.

Saudi military spokesperson Maj. Gen. Turki Al-Maliki said 100 fighter jets had participated in the operation at dawn on Monday and that 324 targets had been destroyed. He added that Saudi aircraft were providing continuous support to Yemeni forces and air protection over the Bab al-Mandeb Strait.

In a separate development, Southern Giants forces announced an offensive against Houthi positions near Bab al-Mandeb on Monday. A military source told South24 Center that Southern forces had advanced and captured the strategic district of Dhubab near Bab al-Mandeb and were approaching the city of Mokha.

Houthi media reported airstrikes on Sanaa and Saada as fighting intensified across several fronts.

The exemption for Mecca and Madinah follows earlier Saudi accusations that the Houthis had attempted to target Mecca. In September, Saudi authorities said they had intercepted a Houthi drone south of the city before it entered its restricted airspace. The Houthis denied targeting Mecca.