The “Coalition”: Dealing with the threat of drones and cruise missiles towards Saudi Arabia

The Saudi General Authority of Civil Aviation announced the extension of the suspension of operational operations at King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, to complete the necessary procedures to verify the safety of the airport facilities and their operational readiness, in coordination with the competent authorities, in the wake of the attack launched by the Iranian-backed terrorist Houthi militia, which targeted Terminal 4, resulting in the death of a Pakistani resident and the injury of 11 others, and the attack on Saturday afternoon, which resulted in the death of 12 people and the injury of 309 of different nationalities, in addition to material damage. Being confined.

The authority explained, in a statement issued on Monday, that the extension of the suspension comes to complete the work of verifying the safety and readiness of the facilities, following the attack that occurred in the hall, and the resulting fire and damage, while the concerned authorities continue evaluation procedures and dealing with the repercussions of the incident.

On Sunday, the Coalition to Support Legitimacy in Yemen announced the interception and destruction of a cruise missile in the vicinity of King Khalid International Airport, coinciding with the attack on Terminal 4 by an unknown projectile, which resulted in a fire. The coalition indicated that the competent authorities responded to the site to deal with the incident.

The attack was part of a series of attacks that took place in Saudi regions during the past hours. The coalition announced the interception and destruction of a ballistic missile launched towards Al-Kharj Governorate, and a drone in the eastern region, before announcing at dawn on Monday the interception and destruction of another ballistic missile launched towards Khamis Mushait Governorate.

The General Authority of Civil Aviation also reported that King Fahd International Airport in Dammam was attacked on Sunday evening, stressing that work is underway to complete the damage assessment and verify the safety of the facilities, in coordination with the competent authorities.

The coalition spokesman, Major General Turki Al-Maliki, had described in a previous statement the attack on the passenger lounge at King Khalid Airport, and the resulting deaths and injuries among civilian passengers and workers, as a “full-fledged war crime,” in accordance with international humanitarian law and its customary rules, stressing that the leadership of the joint forces of the coalition will respond to the attack firmly, in accordance with international humanitarian law and its customary rules.

In a related context, the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs called on citizens whose flights were affected or who were unable to reach their destinations as a result of the suspension or delay of some flights heading to King Khalid International Airport, to contact the Kingdom’s missions in the countries in which they are located, to request assistance and obtain the necessary instructions.

The extension of the suspension of operational operations at the airport comes within the framework of measures aimed at verifying the safety of the facilities and ensuring their readiness before resuming operation, in the wake of the attacks that targeted civilian and vital facilities, and the accompanying human losses and material damage.

The Coalition to Support Legitimacy in Yemen announced, on Monday, the interception and destruction of a ballistic missile launched by the terrorist Houthi militia towards Khamis Mushait Governorate, in the latest air threat announced by Saudi Arabia in conjunction with the continuation of Houthi attacks.

Yesterday (Sunday), the “Coalition to Support Legitimacy in Yemen” announced the interception and destruction of a “cruise” missile in the vicinity of King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, and the landing of an unknown projectile in the airport’s “Passenger Terminal No. 4,” resulting in a fire, hours after the interception and destruction of another “ballistic” missile in Al-Kharj Governorate, and a drone in the Eastern Province. The General Authority of Civil Aviation also announced that King Fahd International Airport in Dammam was attacked yesterday evening. This came the day after terrorist attacks launched by the Houthi militias on civilian and vital installations in Saudi Arabia, which resulted in the death of 12 people and the injury of 309 others as a result of a projectile falling in the passenger lounge at Riyadh Airport.

Arab, Islamic and Western countries expressed their condemnation and denunciation of the attacks, and the “Quartet” countries (Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Pakistan and Turkey) condemned in the strongest terms the ongoing Houthi hostile attacks, including “the sinful attacks that targeted King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh.”

It stressed full solidarity with Saudi Arabia and support for all legitimate measures and steps it takes to confront the attacks and prevent their recurrence, in defense of the Kingdom’s security, sovereignty and territorial integrity in line with the Charter of the United Nations and international law.

Operation “Yemen Dawn” entered its seventh day yesterday, with the expansion of the scope of strikes targeting the Houthi group’s sites in conjunction with ground operations, amid estimates that the group’s losses have risen to about 12,000 dead and wounded during the first six days of the operation.

During a phone call he received from his Iranian counterpart, Abbas Araghchi, on Sunday, Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan discussed the recent escalation in the region and the efforts made regarding it.

On the other hand, Britain renewed its condemnation of the acts of violence launched by the Houthi militia, targeting inside Yemen and civilian facilities in Saudi Arabia, expressing its solidarity with the Kingdom and the Yemeni government in confronting these attacks.

This came in a phone call made by British Foreign Secretary David Lammy with his Saudi counterpart, Prince Faisal bin Farhan, during which they discussed the recent Houthi attacks that targeted King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh.

The two ministers reviewed the close bilateral relations between the two countries, discussed the latest developments in the regional situation, and joint efforts aimed at confronting the current tensions and reducing their security and economic repercussions on the region.

In turn, Bahraini Foreign Minister Dr. Abdul Latif Al-Zayani expressed his country's sincere condolences and sincere sympathy to Saudi Arabia over the death of citizens and residents in the terrorist attack launched by the Houthi militia on Riyadh Airport.

During a phone call with Prince Faisal bin Farhan, Al-Zayani affirmed Bahrain’s full solidarity with Saudi Arabia and its full support for all measures it takes to preserve its sovereignty, security and stability, and protect its citizens and residents of its lands. The two ministers also discussed regional developments and the efforts of the two countries to maintain the security and stability of the region.