Houthi Attacks Kill Three at Saudi Airports as Yemen Conflict Escalates

Three people have been killed and 36 injured in attacks on two Saudi Arabian airports, as Yemen’s Houthi movement expands missile and drone strikes against the kingdom amid a renewed escalation of the conflict.

Saudi Arabia’s General Authority of Civil Aviation said one person was killed and eight injured at King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, while two people were killed and 28 injured at Abha International Airport in the southwest. The authority said the attacks caused material damage at both airports.

The Houthis, an Iran-aligned movement that controls much of northern Yemen, claimed responsibility for the attacks, saying they had targeted Saudi facilities with missiles and drones. Saudi authorities confirmed the strikes but did not publicly attribute responsibility for them.

The attacks have brought the fighting in Yemen directly into Saudi Arabia’s civilian infrastructure. Earlier this week, airports in Najran and Jizan were also hit, leaving three people injured and causing damage, while Saudi forces said they intercepted a ballistic missile directed towards Khamis Mushait.

The latest escalation follows the collapse of a prolonged period of relative calm in Yemen. Saudi Arabia has returned to military action in support of Yemen’s internationally recognised government as its forces seek to push the Houthis away from strategically important areas along the Red Sea and near the Bab el-Mandeb strait.

The Houthis have responded with attacks on Saudi territory, raising the risk that the renewed fighting could develop into a wider confrontation involving Saudi infrastructure and transport networks. Reuters reported that the escalation has also put pressure on Saudi Arabia’s plans to focus on economic development and large-scale projects while avoiding another prolonged war in Yemen.

The human cost of the airport attacks has also extended beyond Saudi citizens. The casualties included a Sudanese resident in Riyadh and Moroccan and Algerian residents in Abha, with other foreign nationals among those injured.

On Thursday, the Houthis claimed they had launched another ballistic missile at King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh. Saudi authorities had not immediately confirmed the claim, leaving the latest incident separate from the casualties officially reported from the earlier attacks.

The Gulf Cooperation Council condemned the attacks and called for a "firm and deterrent" response, saying its members stood behind Saudi Arabia.

Source: FSX Business News