Attacks on Riyadh airport leave three dead, several injured
Saudi Arabia’s civil aviation authority reported that three Saudi nationals were killed and several others injured in two attacks on King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh on Thursday, reports BritPanorama.
The General Authority of Civil Aviation indicated that the first attack focused on airport facilities, while the second targeted a plane belonging to Saudi state carrier Saudia. The nature of the attacks suggests a coordinated effort to disrupt air travel and damage infrastructure.
Injuries reported ranged from minor to severe, with the attacks resulting in significant material damage. Fortunately, airport operations have since resumed, and air traffic has returned to normal, reflecting the resilience of the facility despite the assaults.
Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthis claimed responsibility for the attacks, stating that they engaged the airport with two cruise missiles. Additionally, the group reported targeting an airport in the southwestern city of Najran and an airbase in Khamis Mushait with ballistic missiles. Saudi authorities have not confirmed the Najran claim.
The Houthis contend that their operations are a response to Saudi Arabia’s support for the Yemeni government forces in the ongoing civil war, suggesting a significant escalation in their campaign against the kingdom. Saudi Arabia maintains that it is assisting Yemen’s U.N.-recognized government in efforts to reclaim territory lost to the Houthis.
These recent casualties follow an earlier announcement from Saudi officials that three individuals had died in prior attacks on both Riyadh and Abha airports. This sequence of events underlines the ongoing volatility of the region.
The conflict, increasingly seen as an extension of the broader US-Iran tensions, continues to exacerbate instability in an already volatile area, raising concerns about the potential for further escalation involving regional players.
