At least three civilians were killed and 36 others injured in coordinated Houthi attacks on two major airports in Saudi Arabia, the kingdom’s General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) confirmed on Wednesday. The strikes targeted Abha International Airport in the southwest and King Khalid International Airport in the capital, Riyadh, on Tuesday and Wednesday.
Information was available with The Chenab Times that the attack on Abha International Airport resulted in the deaths of two foreign nationals – a Moroccan and an Algerian resident – and left 28 others wounded. At King Khalid International Airport, a Sudanese national was killed and eight individuals, including five Saudi citizens, sustained injuries. Both airport facilities reported material damage following the assaults.
The Houthi military spokesperson, Yahya Saree, claimed responsibility for the attacks, stating that drones targeted King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, while ballistic missiles and drones were employed against Abha International Airport and the King Khalid Air Base in Khamis Mushait. Saree asserted that the strikes were accurate and disrupted air traffic.
The Saudi-led coalition, which has been engaged in a protracted conflict with the Houthis in Yemen since 2015, responded by announcing the destruction of a ballistic missile launch platform used in the attack on Riyadh. Coalition spokesperson Major General Turki al-Maliki indicated that Sanaa and the provinces of Saada and Amran in Yemen were identified as sources of Houthi missile threats. The coalition later stated that it had struck and destroyed 82 legitimate military targets in response, including Houthi ballistic missile facilities, command-and-control centers, and gathering sites.
This escalation of violence comes amid a significant counter-offensive launched by Saudi-backed Yemeni government forces against Houthi advances in Yemen. The conflict has intensified since July, leading to the displacement of over 200,000 people within Yemen, according to United Nations figures. The Houthis recently claimed to have captured significant territory along Yemen’s Red Sea coastline.
The attacks on Saudi airports are part of a broader pattern of Houthi strikes targeting civilian infrastructure in the kingdom in recent weeks. This is not the first time these airports have been targeted; Abha airport was previously struck in July, prompting warnings from the Houthis for airlines to avoid Saudi airspace. The repeated targeting of airports and military sites underscores the deepening conflict and its expanding reach.
The United States has also issued warnings to its citizens in Saudi Arabia, citing Houthi public threats against airports and airspace across the kingdom and urging heightened vigilance. The US Embassy in Riyadh highlighted these threats as a reason for the advisory.
The civil aviation authority in Saudi Arabia has stated that it is working in close coordination with security authorities to assess damage and implement necessary measures to ensure the safety of passengers and airport personnel. Despite the attacks, operations at King Khalid International Airport reportedly resumed with minimal disruption after an initial halt for security assessments.
The broader geopolitical context involves the ongoing conflict in Yemen, where the Iran-aligned Houthi movement is battling forces supported by a Saudi-led coalition. The recent surge in fighting has been particularly intense in areas such as Taiz and along the Red Sea coast, as both sides vie for territorial control. The international community, including the United Nations, continues to monitor the escalating humanitarian crisis resulting from the prolonged hostilities.
Global Affairs Desk at The Chenab Times covers international developments, global diplomacy, and foreign policy issues through fact-based reporting, explainers, and analytical pieces. The desk focuses on major geopolitical events, diplomatic engagements, and international trends, with an emphasis on verified information, multiple perspectives, and contextual understanding of global affairs.