A projectile struck King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh on Sunday, causing injuries and a fire. This follows a Saturday attack that killed 13 people, as the Houthis warn airlines to avoid Saudi airspace.
King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, was struck by a projectile on Sunday, marking the second attack on the facility in two days. A Saudi military spokesman confirmed that the impact caused a fire in one of the passenger halls. Saudi Arabia's civil aviation authority reported injuries, stating that damage assessment and safety verification were ongoing.
The Sunday incident occurred one day after a missile strike on the same airport killed 13 people and injured 308 others. The death toll rose to 13 after the Indian embassy in Saudi Arabia confirmed that an Indian man succumbed to injuries sustained in the Saturday attack. The victims included four Saudi nationals, two people from Bangladesh, and one person each from the US, Jordan, Palestine, Syria, Sudan, and Egypt.
Saturday’s strike was described as the deadliest single attack on a Gulf Arab country since the war between Israel, the US and Iran began in February. The Saudi-led coalition labeled the attack a "war crime."
The Houthis in Yemen claimed responsibility for the attacks, stating they had targeted the airport with a mix of ballistic and cruise missiles, as well as drones. Brig Gen Yahya Saree, the group's military spokesman, said they had "carried out four qualitative operations in the past 24 hours." The Houthis also claimed attacks on oil facilities and Dammam airport in eastern Saudi Arabia.
The group issued a warning to airlines and passengers against using Saudi Arabian airports and airspace. "We renew our warning to all airlines, experts, employees, workers and travelers against using Saudi airports and airspace, as they are vulnerable to attack and have become a theater of operations for our forces," the group said in a statement. They specified that airports in the holy cities of Mecca and Medina would not be targeted.
US President Donald Trump stated that the US would "make a decision" and "move very quickly" on whether to strike the Houthis. He also indicated plans to speak with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. UK Defence Secretary Wes Streeting suggested the UK could "potentially" provide more support for Saudi Arabia, calling the attacks "contemptible."
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen condemned the "dangerous escalation," stating the EU stands in "solidarity with Saudi Arabia." German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul described the event as "a terrorist act against Saudi Arabia and civil aviation." Russia also condemned the attack, calling for an end to hostilities through "political and diplomatic means."
The escalation follows the collapse of a temporary ceasefire between the Houthis and Saudi-led forces in July. The conflict intensified after the Houthis seized stretches of the Red Sea coast, prompting Saudi strikes. The Houthis stated they are targeting Saudi Arabia over its support for government forces in Yemen's civil war and an air strike on Sanaa airport.
Saudi Arabia is reportedly running low on missile interceptors and has requested air defense support from France, Britain, Pakistan, and Egypt. The attacks have disrupted major international events, including an energy conference in Riyadh. Saudi Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman Al Saud told the conference, "There is no way that somebody will break our back. We are like a phoenix, we come out of the ashes all the time."
The strikes threaten to draw greater US military involvement into the regional conflict and disrupt global oil supplies and commercial shipping through the Red Sea. The targeting of civilian aviation infrastructure raises concerns for international travel and regional stability, with several airlines suspending flights to Saudi Arabia.
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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