Three Saudi nationals were killed after Houthi rebels fired missiles at Saudi Arabia’s Riyadh airport
The General Authority of Civil Aviation confirmed that two separate attacks struck the international airport on Thursday, killing three Saudi citizens and wounding several others of different nationalities. One of the casualties was a pilot on board a Saudia aircraft that was also hit by a missile.
The attacks were part of a broader Houthi offensive that also targeted Abha International Airport and King Khalid International near Riyadh. The Houthi movement, allied with Iran, has said the strikes are retaliation for a sudden surge of Saudi airstrikes on Yemen’s network of airfields and coastal ports.
Saudi authorities reported that air traffic had returned to normal after the incidents, but the attacks underscored the volatility of the region. The Houthi takeover of parts of the Red Sea coast, including the port town of Mokha, threatens international shipping lanes and heightens security concerns for global trade.
The war that began in 2015 in southern Yemen has escalated since last summer, with the Saudi-led coalition intensifying air campaigns against Houthi positions. A brief ceasefire brokered in 2022 collapsed, allowing the conflict to flare again with renewed rocket, drone, and missile activity.
