In brief
In a recent escalation of the Yemen conflict, Yemen’s Houthi group claimed responsibility for two missile strikes on Riyadh International Airport that left three Saudi citizens dead and a number of residents wounded. One of the attacks hit a Saudia aircraft, where a pilot also lost his life. Despite the attacks, air‑traffic control reported that flight operations swiftly returned to normal. The moves are part of a broader Houthi retaliation against Saudi airstrikes, with earlier incidents affecting other Saudi airports. The events underscore the increasing volatility in the region, as the Saudi-led coalition continues to respond to Houthi aggression across the Gulf and Red Sea corridors.
The General Authority of Civil Aviation confirmed that two missile attacks on Riyadh International Airport on Thursday killed three Saudi nationals, adding that several others were injured, including citizens and foreign residents.
The first strike targeted the airport’s perimeter, while the second hit a Saudia aircraft, leaving the pilot among the deceased. The airline released a statement noting the loss of one crew member.
Air‑traffic control reported that flight operations moved back to normal shortly after the attacks, but the incident added to escalating tensions in the region.
The Houthi group, aligned with Iran, claimed the attacks as retaliation for Saudi air and missile strikes that, according to the group, number 60 over the past 24 hours. The Houthis also announced strikes on nearby airports and the Khamis Mushait air base, though Saudi officials have not confirmed those claims.
This latest wave of attacks follows earlier strikes on Abha International Airport and King Khalid International Airport on 6 and 7 October, which left multiple casualties.
The broader conflict has seen the Houthis seize critical Red Sea coastal stretches, including the port of Mokha at the Bab al‑Mandab Strait, a vital shipping chokepoint. In spite of the advance, Yemeni government forces have asserted control over the southern end of the Red Sea. Saudi‑led coalition forces have been engaged against the Houthis since 2015, with temporary ceasefires in 2022 later unraveling in July.
The militant group said its strikes respond to what it views as a prolonged Saudi blockade, accusing Saudi forces of persisting aggression against Yemen’s internationally recognised government.
