Explosions rock Riyadh international airport amid Houthi missile attacks
Several explosions were heard in Saudi Arabia’s capital of Riyadh on Thursday, including a large blast at the city’s international airport, a witness said, a day after the kingdom reported that an attack on the airport killed one person and wounded others, reports BritPanorama.
The Iranian-backed Houthi rebels in neighboring Yemen claimed responsibility for the latest attack on King Khalid International Airport, alleging that a ballistic missile inflicted damage, though they provided no evidence. The Saudi government did not immediately respond to this assertion.
Maj. Gen. Turki al-Malki, spokesperson for the Saudi-led coalition fighting the Houthis, stated that coalition forces intercepted and destroyed two ballistic missiles aimed at Riyadh, as well as another missile targeting Khamis Mushait, near the Yemen border.
The Houthis have frequently boasted of attacks against Saudi airports and military and oil facilities in recent weeks. Early Thursday, they issued a warning to global airlines about the potential hazards of operating in Saudi airspace, characterizing it as a military operations zone.
The ongoing blasts have adversely impacted markets, with crude oil prices surging following the events. King Khalid International Airport was reported to have closed temporarily, according to the Flightradar24 monitor on X.
Witness accounts detailed that fire and ambulance crews were deployed, with smoke visible in the vicinity. Passengers were reportedly instructed to evacuate the airport and leave checked-in luggage behind, though it remains unclear how many flights were affected.
On Wednesday, Saudi officials indicated that two attacks on airports attributed to the Houthis resulted in three fatalities. These marked the first known deaths since the commencement of a major offensive by Saudi and allied Yemeni forces aimed at reclaiming territory recently taken by the Houthis along Yemen’s western coast.
The attack at King Khalid airport resulted in the death of a Sudanese national and injuries to eight others, while the assault on Abha airport caused fatalities among Moroccan and Algerian residents and injured 28 individuals, according to officials.
These hostilities, targeting the world’s leading oil exporter, have escalated concerns, especially given the Houthis’ presence in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, a vital shipping route less affected by the escalating Iran war.
The deadly attacks prompted widespread condemnation from multiple countries, including Britain, India, and the United Arab Emirates, amid rising fears of further escalation. Additionally, a spokesperson for the Saudi-led coalition confirmed that forces targeted and destroyed a launch platform in Yemen’s rebel-controlled capital, Sanaa, used in attacks on Saudi Arabia, although these claims remain unverified.
The situation continues to develop, underlining the fragile security dynamics in the region.
