Saudi Arabia Reports Three Killed in Houthi Attacks on Riyadh Airport
The Houthi group claimed responsibility for missile attacks on the capital's airport, amid escalating regional tensions.
Three Saudi nationals were killed and several others injured in two separate attacks targeting Riyadh's international airport on Thursday, according to the country's General Authority of Civil Aviation. The Houthi group in Yemen claimed responsibility for the missile strikes on the airport.
The attacks also damaged an aircraft belonging to the state carrier Saudia, with one of its pilots among the deceased, the airline confirmed. Air traffic operations at the airport have since returned to normal.
The Houthi military spokesperson stated that two missiles were used in the attack on Riyadh's airport. The group also claimed responsibility for targeting an airport in Najran and the Khamis Mushait air base, though Saudi Arabia has not confirmed these additional claims.
These incidents follow previous Houthi attacks on Saudi airports on October 6 and 7, which resulted in civilian casualties. Earlier in the week, an attack on Abha International Airport killed two people and injured 28, while another attack on King Khalid airport resulted in one fatality.
The renewed violence coincides with an escalation in fighting between Yemen's Houthi forces and Saudi-backed government troops. The Houthi military spokesperson described the recent attacks as retaliation for what they termed "Saudi aggression against our country," citing approximately 60 airstrikes and missile attacks in the preceding 24 hours. The group states its actions are in response to Saudi Arabia's support for government forces in Yemen's ongoing civil war.
The conflict in Yemen has intensified in recent weeks, particularly after the Houthis advanced and seized key coastal areas along the Red Sea, including the port of Mokha, which is strategically located on the Bab al-Mandab Strait. However, Yemeni pro-government forces have recently asserted control over the strait.
A Saudi-led coalition intervened in Yemen in 2015 to support the internationally recognized government against the Houthi takeover. A fragile ceasefire that began in 2022, brokered after years of devastating conflict and a severe humanitarian crisis, has shown signs of unraveling since July.
In recent months, the Houthis have initiated what they describe as a "maritime embargo" against Saudi Arabia, alongside missile and drone assaults on Saudi airports and oil facilities. These actions are presented by the group as retaliation for a long-standing Saudi blockade and an earlier airstrike on Sanaa airport.