Saudi Arabia has lifted restrictions and reopened King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh after a series of Houthi attacks resulted in three fatalities and numerous injuries. The General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) confirmed on Friday that airport operations have returned to normal following the assault on Thursday.
The strikes targeted airport infrastructure and a Saudia Airlines aircraft, causing material damage. The state-owned carrier announced with “profound sadness” that Captain Hamoud Ali Alkalthami was killed during the incident. GACA reported that casualties from the Thursday attack ranged from minor to severe, adding to a wave of Houthi aggression against Saudi aviation hubs earlier in the week.
A Houthi military spokesperson claimed responsibility for the Thursday strike, stating that a ballistic missile was launched at the Riyadh facility and successfully hit its target, disrupting air traffic. This marks a resurgence in the group’s drone and missile campaigns, which have targeted airports including those in Abha, Jazan, and Najran. Previous attacks earlier in the week killed three civilians and injured 36 at Abha and King Khalid airports.
The renewed offensives occur as Yemeni government forces, backed by a Saudi-led coalition, continue a counteroffensive against the Iran-aligned rebels. The conflict was reignited last month after Houthi forces seized significant territory along the strategic Bab al-Mandeb strait. In response to the escalating violence, Pakistan has deployed “substantial forces” to Riyadh to aid in territorial defense, though officials clarified that troops would not cross borders to launch offensive attacks.
The Saudi-led coalition announced on Friday that it had destroyed three Houthi rocket launch platforms used to threaten regional security. Coalition spokesperson Colonel Turki al-Maliki vowed that all attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure would be met with resolve. Earlier operations included the interception of multiple ballistic missiles and extensive targeting of Houthi reinforcements along the Tor al-Baha and Taiz fronts.
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