Houthis, Saudi Arabia Exchange Airport Strikes Amid Escalating Violence

The Iran-backed Houthi rebels and Saudi Arabia intensified regional violence Sunday with coordinated attacks on each other's airports. This exchange followed a Houthi strike on Riyadh's King Khalid International Airport on Saturday that killed 13 people, including one American national.

According to the Saudi-led coalition in Yemen, Houthi rebels fired additional missiles at King Khalid International Airport, igniting a fire in one of its passenger terminals. Coalition spokesman Major General Turki al-Malki stated that at least one projectile struck Terminal 4, and another cruise missile was intercepted near the airport.

The Houthis, who claimed responsibility for Saturday's deadly airport attack, described the assault as part of a three-phased operation against transit hubs. They reported carrying out four bombardments in the preceding 24 hours. The rebel group had previously attacked the airport on Thursday, resulting in three fatalities.

"We reiterate our warning to all international companies, experts, employees, workers, and travelers from all over the world to not operate flights to Saudi airports, as they are unsafe, except for the airports and airspace of the holy cities of Mecca and Medina," the Houthi group said in a statement.

Saudi Arabia's civil aviation authority confirmed civilian injuries from the latest attack but did not release specific casualty numbers or details on the extent of damage. An Indian national who sustained injuries in Saturday's strike later died, raising the total death toll from that incident to 13, according to the Indian embassy in Riyadh.

Houthi officials stated that the attacks on Saudi airports were in retaliation for Saudi Arabia's airstrikes on Houthi-controlled territory in Yemen, including the airport in the capital, Sanaa. The Saudi-backed forces reportedly conducted 124 airstrikes over the weekend, targeting Sanaa International Airport among other locations. No casualties or damage were initially reported at Sanaa airport, according to the state-controlled Saba News Agency.

The weekend strikes represent a significant escalation in the renewed civil war between the Houthis and Yemen's internationally recognized government. The conflict has involved Saudi-led coalition airstrikes against Houthi positions within Yemen. President Trump has indicated that the United States may consider retaliatory attacks against the Houthis following the death of the American citizen and threats from the group. Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman of Saudi Arabia has reportedly urged President Trump to take military action against the Houthis.