Houthi Rebels Attack Saudi Airport, Raising Regional Tensions
A missile strike at King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh wounded multiple people and disrupted flights, marking the latest escalation in the Yemeni civil war.
King Khalid International Airport in Saudi Arabia's capital was the target of a fresh attack by Iran-backed Houthi rebels, resulting in multiple injuries and triggering an urgent evacuation. The explosion occurred in the passenger terminal, according to officials, adding to a series of recent assaults on the kingdom.
Eyewitnesses reported seeing injured individuals on the ground following the incident, with residents hearing two large explosions. Aviation tracker Flightradar indicated that flights to Riyadh were diverted or canceled. Canada's embassy advised its citizens to avoid travel to the airport due to ongoing military activity.
The Houthis have claimed responsibility for attacks earlier in the week, including two missile strikes on Friday that hit the airport and damaged a commercial aircraft, as well as strikes on Najran airport and the Khamis Mushair airbase.
On Thursday, a missile strike at the airport ignited a fire on a parked Saudia Airlines passenger plane. The airline later announced the death of Captain Hamoud Ali Alkalthami, though initial reports indicated the plane was empty at the time of the attack. The passenger terminal, located approximately 20 miles north of the capital, sustained damage.
The Houthi rebels have warned airliners to avoid Saudi airspace, declaring it a zone of military operations following an offensive launched by the Saudi-backed Yemeni government. In separate incidents, Saudi officials reported that debris from an intercepted missile struck a kindergarten and a medical complex in Riyadh.
The renewed conflict stems from the resurgence of the Yemeni civil war, which began in 2014. The Houthi group is attempting to overthrow the internationally recognized government, which is supported by a Saudi-led military coalition. The Houthis state their attacks on Saudi Arabia are in response to its support for Yemen's government, while Saudi Arabia maintains its actions are aimed at helping the legitimate government regain territory.
The Saudi and Omani foreign ministers discussed the importance of diplomatic solutions to de-escalate regional tensions. Saudi Arabia has also sought logistical and defensive support from allies, including Turkey and Pakistan, to counter Houthi advances near the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, a key maritime route. Media reports suggested Syria was considering military aid, though Syrian presidential advisers denied plans to deploy troops.
The attacks have led several airlines to suspend or cancel services to Riyadh, shortly before the capital was scheduled to host major energy and investment conferences. Organizers of these events stated they would proceed as planned, assuring attendees of security measures.
The conflict in Yemen, which had seen a pause with a ceasefire in 2022, has escalated in recent weeks. The Houthis seized territory along the Red Sea coast, including areas near the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, drawing Saudi-backed forces into renewed offensives. The fighting has resulted in a humanitarian crisis, displacing hundreds of thousands of people in Yemen, the Arab world's poorest nation.