Houthis attack Saudi Arabian international airport, kill 3

Oct. 9 (UPI) — Houthi attacks on the Riyadh airport Thursday killed three people, Saudi authorities said Friday.

The Iran-backed Houthi rebels, which have been waging a civil war in Yemen, claimed responsibility for the attacks Thursday, saying they also claim attacks on infrastructure in the south, including an airport in Najran and an air base near Khamis Mushait, The New York Times reported.

A spokesperson for the Coalition Joint Forces Command, a military alliance led by Saudi forces, posted on X that they had intercepted missiles fired toward Khamis Mushait and Riyadh.

The Coalition also posted: “Houthi attacks on civilians and civilian facilities will be met with resolve.”

All three killed at the Riyadh airport were Saudi citizens, and several citizens and foreign residents were injured in the attack, The Times reported

The U.S. Embassy in Riyadh posted about the attacks on X and issued a security alert for U.S. citizens.

“The Houthis have engaged in hostilities against Saudi Arabia, including against civilian airports, and the military conflict has the potential to escalate. U.S. citizens should be aware of potential flight cancellations, airspace closures, and travel disruptions. We recommend checking your flight departure status directly with the airline and with the airport. U.S. citizens are advised to not travel near the Yemen border,” the post said.

The fighting between the Houthis and Saudi Arabia has made it more dangerous for Saudi oil tankers to travel through the Red Sea, which had become an alternative route after the closure of the Strait of Hormuz.

After the attacks, the Saudis launched attacks on Sanaa, Yemen, the country’s capital which is under the control of Houthi rebels. Those attacks reportedly injured six people.

The attacks in Riyadh Thursday at King Khalid International Airport hit facilities and an airplane of Saudia Airlines. It said in a statement that Capt. Hamoud Ali Alkalthami was killed, and that no passengers were aboard the plane.

Several airlines have paused flights to Riyadh, but the city is scheduled to host the WPC Energy Congress beginning Sunday. The event typically attracts billionaires, world leaders and global executives.