The “Coalition Forces” intercepted and destroyed a ballistic missile and a drone launched towards Al-Kharj Governorate and the Eastern Region, according to what the “Coalition to Support Legitimacy in Yemen” announced on Sunday.
The coalition spokesman, Major General Turki Al-Maliki, explained that the “coalition forces” intercepted and destroyed a ballistic missile launched by the Houthi militias towards Al-Kharj Governorate, and a drone in the eastern region.
In a later statement, Al-Maliki described the attack on one of the passenger lounges at King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, 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 it is a heinous act that contradicts principles, values, and morals.
He stressed that the “Comedy of the Joint Forces of the Coalition” will respond to “this terrorist attack firmly, in accordance with international humanitarian law and its customary rules.”
For its part, 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 attack launched by the Iranian-backed terrorist Houthi militia on King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, which led to the death of 12 people and the injury of 309 others, sparked a wave of Arab and international condemnation, which stressed that targeting civilian facilities and endangering the lives of travelers and workers represents a violation of international law and threatens the security of the region and the safety of air navigation.
A senior official at the Egyptian Embassy in Saudi Arabia revealed that the official procedures for transporting the body of the Egyptian air hostess, Azza Ramzy, to Cairo are nearing completion, suggesting that the body will arrive tomorrow (Monday), after completing the necessary permits and shipping arrangements, while the health condition of the seven injured Egyptians has been confirmed to be stable, and two of them have left the hospital after receiving treatment, while 5 are still receiving medical care.
Yasser Hashem, the Egyptian Consul General in the Saudi capital, Riyadh, explained in a phone call with Asharq Al-Awsat that the concerned authorities are working to complete the procedures for transporting the body, after obtaining the transport permit, and working to finalize the police report and documents related to the death. Pointing out that the procedures are going well and are expected to be completed during the day.
He said that the airline for which the deceased was working as an air hostess will undertake arrangements to ship the body to Cairo, pointing out that determining the flight date depends on completing the required preparations, including preparing the coffin, and coordination with the shipping company and the competent authorities.
Consul Hashem indicated that it is possible to complete the procedures “today,” provided that the body will be transported the next day and arrive in Cairo, explaining that the process of transporting the body will be from the capital, Riyadh, according to the operating conditions of King Khalid International Airport and the available flight times.
Regarding the health condition of the injured, the Egyptian Consul confirmed that the number of injured people reached 7, two of whom received the necessary treatment and left the hospital, while 5 others are still receiving medical care, stressing that the health conditions of the injured are stable and reassuring, explaining that one of the cases suffered injuries to the face, arm and abdomen, but they do not pose a threat to life, according to the available medical information.
According to the information obtained by Asharq Al-Awsat about the flight attendant, Azza Ramzi, the three years that the deceased spent working in Saudi Arabia were not just a passing professional stop; Rather, she left a good impression on those who knew her, with her good manners, passion for work, and ambition for the future.
An acquaintance of the deceased said in an interview with Asharq Al-Awsat that she was the youngest sister among her brothers, and she spent 3 years in Saudi Arabia, during which she joined the airline from within Saudi Arabia. Pointing out that she was known for her high morals, politeness, and respect for others.
He added that the deceased was an ambitious young woman who was passionate about her work, keen on performing her professional duties, and loved to work at all times, stressing that she left a good image among those who dealt with her.
The recent Houthi attacks on civilian facilities in Saudi Arabia, especially airports, revealed the strength and cohesion of the transportation network in the Kingdom. Several measures demonstrated the ability to deal with similar challenges and provide alternative solutions that enhance the smooth movement of passengers.
With King Khalid International Airport being subjected to a brutal attack on Saturday, remarkable aspects immediately emerged regarding the readiness of the Saudi transportation network for all circumstances. On Saturday, the Saudi Railways “SAR” announced the operation of additional trains from Al-Qassim to Riyadh, passing through Al-Majmaah Station, in the early hours of Sunday morning, which travelers told Asharq Al-Awsat provided them with the option of heading to Prince Mohammed bin Abdulaziz Airport in the Al-Qassim region (central Saudi Arabia), and then taking the “SAR” train to Riyadh, their final destination, which reflects the strength of this network and the multiplicity of its options, under any circumstances, as they put it.
In addition, phases of gradual operation are continuing at King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah Governorate (western Saudi Arabia), with airlines continuing to move from the northern terminal to Terminal 4, amid the flow of flights shown by air traffic control applications for flights.
Travelers also reported to Asharq Al-Awsat that their flights were scheduled to Riyadh, before they were redirected to Al-Dawadmi Airport in the Al-Dawadmi Governorate of the capital, Riyadh, before moving overland to Riyadh within a distance not exceeding 300 square kilometers.
In the same context, the Saudi Embassy in Kuwait announced the provision of buses to transport citizens wishing to return to the city of Riyadh whose flights were cancelled, provided that there is a canceled travel reservation, while the Embassy in Bahrain 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 in Riyadh, to contact the embassy to request the necessary assistance and guidance.
The Saudi transportation system is based on a multi-center and multi-modal network, which gives it a wide range of operational alternatives, including 27 commercial airports spread throughout the country, including international, regional and local. According to the General Authority for Statistics, the Kingdom’s airports received 140.9 million passengers during the year 2025 through 979.8 thousand flights, and Saudi airports are connected to 176 destinations in 66 countries.
This expansion is not limited to air transport only, as the Saudi Railways “SAR” operates a network exceeding 5,500 kilometers, and during 2025 it transported more than 14 million passengers and more than 30 million tons of metals and goods. In Riyadh, the Riyadh train network adds 6 tracks with a length of 176 kilometers and 85 stations, including a track that reaches King Khalid International Airport. These numbers reflect the expansion of infrastructure and the multiplicity of transportation centers and paths in the country.
