A Houthi attack on Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport on Saturday killed at least 12 people and injured 309, Saudi Arabia’s General Authority of Civil Aviation said, as attacks on Saudi airports intensified amid escalating fighting in Yemen.
The fatalities included four Saudi nationals, two Bangladeshis, and one citizen each from the United States, Egypt, Jordan, Syria, Palestine and Sudan. Some of the injured were reported to be in critical condition.
The attack marked the third time this week that the Houthi rebel group had targeted Saudi airports. On Thursday, separate Houthi attacks on Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport killed three people, including a pilot. Another incident on Saturday involved a projectile falling near King Fahd International Airport in Dammam. Saudi Arabia’s Abha International Airport was also targeted as fighting intensified between the Houthis and forces of Yemen’s internationally recognised government.
The Houthis have warned airlines to avoid Saudi airspace, declaring it a zone of military operations after Yemeni government forces launched an offensive against the group on Monday.
United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres expressed deep shock and strongly condemned what he described as Saturday’s deadly Houthi attack. He said attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure violate international law and called for them to stop immediately.
The attack came amid heightened regional tensions following the US and Israeli military campaign against Iran, which began in February. It also coincided with efforts by Pakistan and Turkey to activate the Mecca Pact, a joint defence agreement they signed with Saudi Arabia in August.
Meanwhile, the US Embassy in Riyadh issued a security alert urging American citizens to exercise extreme caution when using major airports across Saudi Arabia.
The alert stated that US government employees in Saudi Arabia require special authorisation to use King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, as well as airports in Jeddah and Dammam. It also restricted their travel within 20 miles of the Yemeni border and required special authorisation for travel to Jizan, Asir, Najran, Qatif, Yanbu and Taif.
The Saudi-led coalition fighting in Yemen condemned the attack as a “full-fledged war crime”. Its spokesperson, Major-General Turki al-Malki, said the coalition would respond decisively in accordance with customary international humanitarian law.
Colonel Majed Abdullah al-Nazili, spokesperson for Yemeni government forces, said at least 1,150 Houthi fighters had been killed in nearly 2,000 targeted operations conducted under the military campaign known as “Dawn of Yemen”. He added that government forces were continuing to advance.
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