Second Missile Strike Hits Riyadh Airport Days After Deadly Attack

King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh was hit by an “unidentified projectile” on Sunday, marking the second strike on the facility in 48 hours. According to the Saudi-led coalition, which is engaged in operations against Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen, a cruise missile was also intercepted by air defense systems near the airport, though specific details regarding the incident remain scarce.

The latest incident occurs while the airport remains shut down following a devastating attack on Saturday that killed 12 individuals and injured more than 300. That assault stands as the deadliest strike on the kingdom in over a decade.

Hours before Sunday’s attack, the Houthis issued a public warning through their social media channels, urging airlines, workers, and travelers to avoid Saudi airports due to their vulnerability. The group stated that these locations have become “theaters of operation” for their forces and emphasized that Riyadh holds responsibility for any failed interceptions. However, the Houthi statement clarified that airports in the holy cities of Mecca and Medina would not be targeted.

Saudi officials have blamed the Iran-backed rebel group for the Saturday attack, describing it as a “full-fledged war crime” and vowing a robust response. Although the Houthis have not formally claimed responsibility for the strikes on Riyadh, their actions coincide with an intensified Saudi military campaign in Yemen. This escalation follows recent Houthi gains of strategic territory along the Red Sea coast, including areas near the vital Bab al-Mandab strait.

The Houthi-run health ministry reported that 91 Yemenis, 60% of whom were women and children, have been killed by coalition forces over the past five weeks. Additionally, the ministry claimed a child was killed and six others wounded in a suspected Saudi airstrike on a residential home in Sanaa on Sunday, a claim Saudi authorities have not yet addressed.

International reaction to the attacks has been swift and condemnatory. US President Donald Trump stated he would discuss the matter with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, calling the attack “not acceptable” and suggesting the United States might consider joining Saudi strikes against the rebels. European leaders, including European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul, expressed shock and solidarity with Saudi Arabia, condemning the events as dangerous escalations and terrorist acts.

The UK’s defense secretary Wes Streeting and the French Foreign Ministry also strongly condemned the strike, with France emphasizing its “total solidarity” with Riyadh. Meanwhile, Australia has advised its citizens in the Saudi capital to shelter in place as regional tensions continue to rise.