Several injured after attack on Saudi Arabia's Riyadh Airport
Quick Look
- A missile attack on King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh injured multiple people on Saturday, according to Saudi civil aviation authority and anonymous officials.
- Western embassies urged citizens to avoid the airport, citing Houthi rebel involvement.
- The strike follows intensified fighting in Yemen, with Houthis launching repeated attacks on Saudi targets, including prior strikes on the same airport earlier in the week that killed four and damaged planes.
AI-generated summary
Why It Matters
The attack occurs amid intensified fighting between Houthi rebels and the Saudi-backed government in Yemen. The Houthis have been launching strikes on targets in Saudi Arabia, including multiple strikes on Riyadh airport earlier in the week that killed four and damaged planes. Last month, Houthi rebels advanced along Yemen's Red Sea coast, prompting a Saudi-led counter-offensive.
A number of people were injured in an attack on King Khalid International Airport in the Saudi capital Riyadh on Saturday, the country's civil aviation authority has confirmed.
A Saudi official, speaking on the condition of anonymity, told the Associated Press that many people were wounded after a missile hit a passenger terminal.
The AFP news agency also reported that a number of people were injured, citing a local medical source who also spoke on the condition of anonymity.
"ER doctors are being called to hospitals across Riyadh," the source told AFP. "We were told we are dealing with a 'serious emergency situation'. Injured are being moved to hospitals across Riyadh."
Several Western embassies in Riyadh, including those of Germany, the United States, Canada and Spain, urged citizens to avoid the airport.
The US embassy said it was "aware of attacks" at the airport. Spain's embassy referred to a "new attack" by the Houthi rebels in Yemen while Canada's embassy warned of "ongoing military activity."
Strikes hit Riyadh Airport earlier this week
The reports come amid intensified fighting between Houthi rebels and the Saudi-backed government in Yemen.
The Iran-backed Houthis have been launching strikes on targets in Saudi Arabia, including several this week on the airport in Riyadh that killed four people, injured several others, and damaged planes.
Etihad Airways and Qatar Airways canceled multiple flights between their respective hubs and Riyadh, with some cancellations extending into Monday. Kuwait Airways also cancelled its flights on Saturday.
There was no immediate Houthi statement about the reported blast on Saturday.
Last month, Houthi rebels made advances on important strategic locations along Yemen's Red Sea coast, with a Saudi-led coalition providing air support for Yemeni government forces seeking to take back those gains.
The Houthis have responded by launching attacks into Saudi Arabia, which represents a significant escalation in their multi-year conflict with Yemen's Riyadh-backed government after a peace deal unraveled in July.
The Saudi-backed government in Yemen last week announced a counter-offensive aimed at retaking all areas held by the Houthis, especially those around the Bab al-Mandab strait.
Edited by: Srinivas Mazumdaru
What to Watch
AI outlook — possibilities, not facts
Saudi Arabia will enhance security measures at King Khalid International Airport and other key infrastructure
Very likely · Within days
Further Houthi attacks on Saudi targets, including airports and oil facilities, are likely in the coming weeks
Likely · Within weeks
The Saudi-led coalition will intensify its counter-offensive in Yemen to retake areas held by the Houthis
Likely · Within weeks
Open Questions
- What type of missile was used in the attack?
- How many people were injured in the attack?
- Was there any claim of responsibility from the Houthi rebels?
- What is the extent of damage to the airport infrastructure?
