Strikes at Riyadh airport: What we know about the attack attributed to the Houthis in Saudi Arabia

On Saturday, a missile struck Riyadh International Airport, Saudi Arabia, killing at least 12 people and injuring 309. It is the deadliest attack the kingdom has seen in ten years, according to the Quai d'Orsay. Riyadh accuses the Houthis, pro-Iranian fighters in Yemen. 20 Minutes takes stock of the situation.

What happened?

A missile targeted King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh on Saturday. The spokesperson for the military coalition led by Saudi Arabia, Turki al-Malki, describes this attack “against one of the passenger terminals” as a “war crime”. The Houthis did not immediately claim responsibility for the attack. The airport had already been targeted on Wednesday, then Thursday, in strikes which left three people dead, including a pilot. The scale and frequency of these attacks are unprecedented since the start of the war in the Middle East eight months ago.

What is the outcome?

The Saudi civil aviation authority reported this Sunday 12 deaths and 309 injured. Among the dead are four Saudis and eight foreigners, including an American. A French national was also injured, according to the Quai d’Orsay. On Saturday, a medical source spoke of evacuations by helicopter and at least five people in intensive care. “I saw injured people. Everyone was running,” said a passenger.

What international reactions?

The coalition assures that it “will respond firmly to this terrorist attack”. Donald Trump judged that “what happened in Saudi Arabia is not acceptable” and must speak with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. Asked about American participation in strikes against the Houthis, he replied: “It’s possible. We will look into the matter. » The US embassy has restricted access for its staff to Jeddah and Damman airports.

For its part, Paris condemns a “heinous attack” and reaffirms “its total solidarity with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia”. The UN envoy for Yemen, Hans Grundberg, denounces “a serious escalation”, while Antonio Guterres says he is “deeply shocked”. Ursula von der Leyen believes that these “deadly attacks against civilians must stop immediately”. In London, Defense Minister Wes Streeting speaks of “a totally despicable act”. The United Arab Emirates, Iraq and Pakistan also condemned the attack.

What consequences for traffic?

The airport remains closed for another 24 hours according to Flightradar24. In Kuwait, the Saudi embassy is chartering buses, departing Monday, "to transport nationals wishing to return and whose flights have been canceled to Riyadh", more than 600 kilometers, mainly through the desert, separate the two cities.

On Sunday, the Houthis renewed their warning to travelers and airlines. According to their military spokesperson Yahya Saree, Saudi airports, excluding Mecca and Medina, “are exposed to strikes and constitute a theater of operations”.