Riyadh’s main gateway, King Khalid International Airport, was hit again on Sunday, just a day after a deadly strike on the same facility. Saudi officials said an "unknown projectile" struck Passenger Hall No. 4, sparking a fire and causing injuries among airport staff and passengers.
What happened?
According to a Saudi military spokesman, the projectile—identified by the Houthi group as a missile—impacted the airport on Sunday, prompting emergency crews to battle the blaze. The Saudi civil aviation authority confirmed that there were injuries, though the exact number was not disclosed in the immediate report.
Background to the attacks
The previous day, a strike on King Khalid International Airport killed 13 people and injured more than 300, marking the deadliest single attack on a Gulf Arab country since the regional conflict escalated in February. The Houthi movement, based in Yemen, said it was behind both attacks, citing Saudi Arabia’s involvement in the Yemeni civil war and a recent air strike on Sanaa airport as motives.
Houthi claims and tactics
The Houthi spokesperson, Brig Gen Yahya Saree, asserted that the group employed a combination of ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, and drones in the latest 24‑hour period. In addition to the Riyadh airport, the group reported strikes on oil facilities and Dammam airport in eastern Saudi Arabia, and warned that all Saudi airports—except those in the holy cities of Mecca and Medina—could be targeted.
International reaction
Western governments responded with travel advisories and diplomatic statements. The UK Foreign Office warned against travel to parts of Saudi Arabia within 10 km of the Yemen border, while the US Secretary of State condemned the attacks and noted that a US citizen was among the dead. The UK Defence Secretary suggested possible additional support for Saudi Arabia, and the US President indicated a rapid decision would be made regarding a possible strike on the Houthi forces.
Casualties and nationalities
- Four Saudi nationals
- Two Bangladeshis
- One citizen each from the United States, Jordan, Palestine, Syria, Sudan, and Egypt
These figures were provided by the Saudi civil aviation authority following the earlier strike. The Indian embassy also reported that an Indian national succumbed to injuries from the attack.
Uncertainty
While the Houthi group claimed responsibility and described the weapons used, independent verification of the exact missile type and the full extent of damage remains limited. Saudi officials reported that air defenses intercepted a missile near the airport, but details about the intercepted projectile versus the one that caused the fire were not fully clarified.
Implications for the regional conflict
The renewed attacks come after a temporary ceasefire between the Houthi forces and the Saudi‑led coalition collapsed in July. The Houthi movement now controls roughly a quarter of Yemeni territory and claims to hold up to 80 % of the country’s population, raising concerns in Riyadh about a potential Iranian‑aligned foothold on its southern border.
As the conflict escalates, the safety of civilian infrastructure, especially international airports, remains a pressing concern for both regional actors and the global travel community.