Houthi Strike at Riyadh Airport Leaves Several Injured and Suspends Operations

An attack on King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh has left several people injured, according to the General Authority of Civil Aviation. Operations at the airport were temporarily suspended this Saturday afternoon while officials assessed the damage and counted the wounded. This incident follows another strike earlier in the week where three Saudi citizens, including a pilot, lost their lives during Houthi attacks on Thursday. The Houthi group from Yemen, which is fighting alongside Iran against Riyadh and the government in Aden, has not yet claimed responsibility for this latest assault despite issuing warnings to airlines.

The Iran-backed faction told aviation companies to steer clear of Saudi airspace unless they were flying over Mecca or Medina. Before the attack became public, King Khalid airport urged travelers to check with their airlines directly regarding flight status since air traffic was reportedly disrupted without a specified cause. The Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs instructed its citizens facing travel disruptions due to this event to contact local embassies immediately. President Donald Trump addressed reporters outside the White House when asked about potential US involvement in strikes against the Houthis. He stated, "We may. We're going to look at it. We just found out about the recent attack, so we'll make a decision. We move very quickly."

Foreign embassies in Riyadh also issued urgent advisories on social media platforms as the security situation unfolded. The US mission said it was aware of attacks on King Khalid International Airport and strongly recommended that all Americans avoid the facility and nearby areas. Embassies from Britain, Ireland, and Canada warned their nationals about a serious incident at the site while Canada specifically advised avoiding travel due to ongoing military activity. Japan's embassy issued strong condemnation for Houthi strikes targeting airports and other civilian facilities in Saudi Arabia. Kuwait Airways cancelled flights because the airport had closed due to this security situation. On Thursday, a Houthi military spokesperson claimed that their armed group launched a ballistic missile toward the Riyadh airport that hit its intended target successfully. Days earlier, similar alleged attacks on Abha and King Khalid airports killed three civilians and injured thirty-six others while disrupting air traffic significantly. The latest event highlights how restricted access to information leaves travelers uncertain about safety protocols during these volatile times.