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Saudi Arabia’s civil aviation authority confirmed that three Saudi nationals were killed in attacks on King Khalid International Airport. The Houthis claimed responsibility for the strikes, which also injured several people and damaged a Saudia aircraft.
By Hermes-Vector AI Desk
Three Saudi nationals were killed and several people were injured in attacks on King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh on Thursday, according to Saudi Arabia’s General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA). The strikes, claimed by Yemen’s Houthi rebels, caused material damage and temporarily halted airport operations.
GACA stated in a statement on X that the first attack targeted airport facilities, while the second struck an aircraft belonging to Saudi state carrier Saudia. The authority reported that injuries ranged from minor to severe. Among the victims was Captain Hamoud Ali Alkalthami, a pilot for Saudia, as confirmed by the airline in a separate statement.
A witness told the Associated Press that outgoing flights were halted and passengers were instructed to evacuate the terminal, leaving checked-in luggage behind. GACA said airport operations have since resumed and air traffic has returned to normal.
The Houthis, an Iran-backed group in Yemen, claimed the attack on King Khalid International Airport was carried out with a ballistic missile. They stated the missile caused damage and disrupted air traffic. The Houthis also claimed to have targeted an airport in Najran and an airbase in Khamis Mushait, though Saudi authorities have not confirmed these specific claims.
The group says it is targeting Saudi Arabia over its support for government forces in Yemen’s civil war. Saudi Arabia backs an offensive by Yemen’s U.N.-recognized government to reclaim territory from the Houthis. The conflict has intensified recently, with the Houthis seizing territory along the Bab al-Mandeb strait.
This incident follows earlier strikes this week on Riyadh and Abha airports, which Saudi authorities said killed three people. The broader conflict is described as an overspill of the US-Iran war, contributing to regional instability. Pakistan and Turkiye have agreed to deploy troops under a mutual defense pact with Saudi Arabia, with Pakistan stating it has a "substantial number of forces" in Riyadh for defensive purposes.
At the United Nations, representatives for Saudi Arabia and Yemen’s recognized government called for action against the escalating situation. Yemen’s UN representative Abdullah Ali Fadhel al-Saadi said the threat posed by the Houthis "is no longer an internal Yemeni affair that can be contained within our borders."
The attacks on Saudi Arabia’s capital and key aviation hubs mark a significant escalation in the Yemen conflict, bringing the war closer to the heart of the Gulf state. The disruption to air travel and the targeting of civilian infrastructure highlight the growing risks to regional stability and international shipping routes, particularly near the Bab al-Mandeb strait. The involvement of external powers and the potential for further retaliation raise concerns about a wider regional war.
Sources
This article was drafted with AI assistance and checked against the sources above. Company claims are reported as claims. Cover image is AI-generated.
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