King Khalid International Airport in the Saudi capital of Riyadh has been hit by a second strike in as many days. A Saudi military spokesperson confirmed that an unknown projectile struck the facility on Sunday, triggering a fire in Passenger Hall No 4. The Saudi civil aviation authority reported that individuals were injured in the incident.
This latest attack follows a separate strike on the same airport just 24 hours earlier, which resulted in 13 fatalities and left 308 people injured. The Houthi group in Yemen has claimed responsibility for the recent wave of violence, which also included drone and missile strikes targeting oil facilities and Dammam airport in the eastern region of the country. Following similar strikes earlier this week, it comes a day after a strike on the same airport killed 13 people and injured 308 others.
Houthi military spokesperson Brigadier General Yahya Saree stated that the group deployed a mix of cruise missiles, ballistic missiles, and drones. He declared an intent to continue what he described as escalating operations deep inside Saudi Arabia, warning that all airports in the kingdom are considered potential targets, with the exception of those located in the holy cities of Mecca and Medina.
The Houthis stated that their campaign is in retaliation for Saudi Arabia’s role in the Yemeni civil war and a specific air strike on an airport in Sanaa. Major General Turki al-Maliki, representing the Saudi-led coalition, noted that air defense systems successfully intercepted a missile near the airport in Riyadh before the projectile landed in the terminal.
In response to the escalating conflict, US President Donald Trump stated that his administration would make a decision quickly regarding potential strikes against the Houthi group. Meanwhile, UK Defence Secretary Wes Streeting indicated that London could potentially provide additional support to Saudi Arabia to bolster its security.
