King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh was hit by an unidentified projectile on Sunday, marking the second attack on the facility within 48 hours. The Saudi-led coalition, which is engaged in military operations against Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen, confirmed the strike, which resulted in injuries and ongoing damage assessments.
In a statement, the General Authority of Civil Aviation reported that the assault occurred Sunday afternoon and that safety evaluations of the airport’s infrastructure are currently underway. Major General Turki al-Maliki, a spokesman for the coalition, confirmed that air defense systems intercepted a cruise missile near the airport, though he provided no further immediate details.
The Houthi movement subsequently claimed responsibility for the incident. A spokesperson stated that the group had conducted four “qualitative operations” over the previous 24 hours utilizing ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, and drones. The attacks targeted the Riyadh airport multiple times, as well as the airport in Dammam and two facilities owned by state oil giant Aramco.
The latest strike occurs while King Khalid International Airport remains closed following a deadly attack on Saturday that killed at least 12 people and injured more than 300 others. That incident stands as the deadliest attack on a Saudi airport in over a decade.
Hours before the Sunday strike, the Houthis issued a broad warning to airlines and travelers, urging them to avoid Saudi airports due to vulnerability to attack. The group specified, however, that airports in the holy cities of Mecca and Medina would not be targeted. “Saudi Arabia bears responsibility for any failed interceptions,” the statement read, adding that the airports have become a “theater of operations” for Houthi forces.
Tensions have surged recently as Saudi Arabia has increased its military involvement in Yemen, launching airstrikes and supporting Yemeni government counteroffensives after Houthi rebels seized strategic territory along the Red Sea coast, including the Bab al-Mandab strait, last month.
The Houthi-run health authority reported that 91 Yemenis have been killed by the Saudi-led coalition over the past five weeks, with 60% of the victims identified as women and children. Earlier on Sunday, the group claimed a child was killed and six others wounded in a suspected Saudi airstrike on a home in Sanaa. Additionally, Houthi-affiliated media reported that Saudi forces had struck Sanaa’s international airport, though Saudi authorities had not yet commented on these claims.
The Saudi-led coalition has condemned the Riyadh attacks as a “full-fledged war crime” and vowed a robust response. The escalation follows a major military offensive launched by the coalition against the Houthis. The rebels, described as one of Tehran’s regional proxies, have been fighting Yemen’s internationally recognized government since the outbreak of civil war more than a decade ago. Although a truce was established in 2022, it failed to produce a lasting peace deal, and the broader US-Israeli conflict with Iran has reignited fighting in Yemen, exacerbating a severe humanitarian crisis.
Internationally, the attacks drew sharp condemnation. US President Donald Trump stated he planned to speak with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, calling the assault “not acceptable” and suggesting the United States might consider joining Saudi strikes against the rebels. European leaders also expressed shock; European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen described the events as a “dangerous escalation” that threatens global transport and energy nodes, while German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul labeled the incident a terrorist act.
UK Defense Secretary Wes Streeting and the French Foreign Ministry similarly condemned the attacks, affirming solidarity with Saudi Arabia. Russia, a strategic partner of Iran, condemned the Houthi actions but called for hostilities to end through diplomatic means. Meanwhile, Australia urged its citizens in Riyadh to shelter in place as the security situation deteriorates.
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