One person was killed and 12 others injured in a new attack on Riyadh International Airport on Sunday, a day after an attack on the airport claimed by Iran-aligned Houthi rebels in Yemen killed 13 people and injured more than 300.
The Saudi-led coalition in Yemen said an “unidentified projectile” struck Terminal 4 at King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh on Saturday, causing a fire. Saudi Arabia’s General Authority of Civil Aviation said 11 people were injured, while a Pakistani national was killed.
The coalition said Saudi air defenses intercepted a cruise missile near the airport. It later reported intercepting and destroying a drone in the Kingdom’s Eastern Province, adding that a ballistic missile launched toward Khamis Mushait had also been intercepted.
Saudi Civil Defense said it issued an early warning of a potential threat in Abha in the south of the Kingdom early Monday, adding that the threat had later subsided.
Footage broadcast by Saudi state television of Saturday’s attack on Riyadh airport showed dozens of pilgrims lining up at a gate preparing to travel to Mecca and Medina. A bright orange flash sent people fleeing in panic, while parts of the ceiling appeared to have collapsed.
The airport has remained closed since Saturday’s attack. Despite the closure, a long-planned international energy conference went ahead in Riyadh.
Houthi Claim of Additional Attacks
Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree said in a televised speech on Sunday that the group was responsible for Saturday’s attack. He also said the group had attacked Dammam airport in the Kingdom’s Eastern Province and two facilities belonging to Saudi oil giant Aramco.
The General Authority of Civil Aviation later confirmed an attack on King Fahd International Airport in Dammam, saying that “the assessment of damage and verification of the safety of facilities is ongoing.”
A witness aboard a plane taxiing on the Dammam airport runway told Reuters that at around 8:30 p.m. Sunday (1730 GMT), he saw a projectile strike the runway near several parked aircraft, causing a fire. The witness said the plane returned to the gate, where passengers disembarked and were instructed to leave the airport.
Flight-tracking website Flightradar24 showed several delays and cancellations on Sunday evening involving flights arriving at and departing from Dammam airport, which serves the capital of the oil-producing region and is the Kingdom’s third-largest airport.
The Houthis renewed their warnings to airlines, airport workers and travelers against using Saudi airports, saying everyone should “take our warnings seriously” and that Saudi Arabia would bear responsibility for any failed interceptions.
The British Embassy in Saudi Arabia advised British citizens in a post on X to avoid all but essential travel to Jeddah, Dammam and all airports in the Kingdom except Medina airport.
The US Federal Aviation Administration issued a notice advising US airlines to exercise caution when flying to or over Saudi Arabia.
Trump Considers Joining the Attacks
The truce between the Houthis and the Yemeni government, reached in 2022, collapsed in July. Since then, the Houthis have repeatedly launched ballistic missiles and drones at Saudi Arabia. They have also declared a naval blockade of Saudi Arabia in response to what they describe as a blockade of areas under their control, and have resumed targeting Saudi oil tankers, energy facilities and airports.
The war in Yemen began in 2014 when the Houthis seized control of Sanaa. Saudi Arabia has led a coalition supporting Yemen’s internationally recognized government since 2015.
Yemeni Presidential Leadership Council Chairman Rashad Mohammed Al-Alimi announced on October 5 the launch of “Dawn of Yemen,” an operation aimed at restoring state institutions, liberating the capital Sanaa and ending the Houthi militia’s coup.
US President Donald Trump said Saturday that Washington was considering joining Saudi attacks on the Houthis in a conflict that he described as an extension of the broader war against Iran launched by the United States and Israel in February.
In a post on Telegram, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said he had told his Saudi counterpart that Tehran was ready to help mediate dialogue between Saudi Arabia and Yemen.
World Petroleum Conference Continues
Saudi Arabia’s Energy Ministry said the World Petroleum Conference began Sunday and would continue for five days at a conference center located about 10 kilometers from the airport.
A ministry media bulletin said a ministerial meeting of the International Energy Forum was also held Sunday. It was not immediately clear which ministers attended.
Italian Energy Minister Gilberto Pichetto Fratin, whose country is co-hosting the event, said Friday that he would participate remotely by video.
German officials sought to arrange a return flight for Economy Minister Katherina Reiche, who was in Riyadh to attend the World Petroleum Conference and the ministerial meeting. She was scheduled to return to Berlin from Riyadh on Monday, but the ministry said it appeared increasingly unlikely that her flight would be able to depart.
Saudi authorities informed parents that in-person classes would be suspended and schools would switch to remote learning from Sunday through Thursday for all students, teachers and administrative staff.
Sunday’s attack brought the number of people killed in attacks targeting Riyadh airport in recent days to 18. Saudi authorities said four Saudis were among those killed in Saturday’s attack, while the others were foreign nationals.
Source: Agencies
