Fresh explosions were reported near Aden International Airport in southern Yemen on Wednesday, October 28, after the Houthi rebel group renewed a warning urging people to evacuate the facility, according to local sources and the Xinhua news agency. The blasts followed an earlier explosion close to the airport and raised questions about a Saudi cargo aircraft allegedly carrying weapons, claims that remain unverified.
Background
The incident came amidst rising tensions in the Yemeni conflict that began in late 2014 when the Houthi movement seized Sana’a and much of northern Yemen, prompting a Saudi‑led coalition to intervene in 2015 in support of the internationally recognized government. In recent weeks both sides have increased their use of missiles, drones and air attacks, resulting in a series of deadly strikes in key urban centers and infrastructure. The latest blasts near Aden came only days after a Houthi‑controlled drone attack damaged a government convoy in nearby Sanaa, heightening fears that the city could become the next flashpoint. Reports indicate at least two separate explosive devices detonated within a kilometre of the terminal roof, prompting emergency services to conduct extensive search operations and to isolate the perimeter until the cause could be identified. The exact number of casualties remains unreported at this time.
Local sources said hundreds of passengers, including patients and medical staff, had hurriedly left the airport following the Houthi warning shortly before the explosions. Many were seeking safety in the nearby Moghanah district, according to residents who gathered at the flight‑arrivals area. The airport’s fighter jets were reportedly on standby but did not intervene, as coordination with the Yemeni Civil Aviation Authority remains limited, officials said. Meanwhile, several expatriate journalists present at the airport left the premises after observing the sudden noises and reported that the airspace remained dark and unmonitored due to congested traffic and air‑strike alerts issued earlier that day. The civilians were shuttled to temporary shelters by local volunteers, according to a community leader who made the statement.
The Houthi military spokesman Yahya Sarea claimed that a Saudi military cargo plane was present at the airport transporting weapons, asserting that the squadron had not yet departed. He described the plane as "a component of the coalition's strategic program against Houthi forces" and warned that any attack would provoke retaliation. Despite these allegations, the Saudi‑led coalition responded with silence, issuing no statements or confirming or refuting the presence of any military aircraft in the area. Likewise, the Yemeni government’s Joint Operations Command declined to comment on the incident, citing ongoing security assessments. The lack of immediate confirmation has left analysts questioning the feasibility of the cargo claim and suspecting that the announcement could be intended to deter civilian presence or to claim responsibility for the explosions. The explosions were heard within a short span, with at least two audible blasts reported by residents, before emergency teams attempted to assess the damages.
The Yemeni conflict has escalated in recent weeks, with increased aerial assaults and drone strikes, according to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. On Friday, a Houthi missile reportedly struck a residential area near Aden, causing casualties. In turn, coalition airstrikes have targeted the port infrastructure in the same city. The repeated targeting of Aden's airport raises concerns about the viability of civilian air travel and trade, particularly given the city's role as a key exit point for humanitarian aid into the country. Analysts caution that further escalation could spill into neighboring islands, potentially disrupting regional shipping lanes. Until both sides verify the presence or absence of military aircraft, speculation will likely continue. International actors have called for restraint and have urged both parties to engage in dialogue, but no formal ceasefire has been brokered.
