Houthi Missile Attacks Kill 13 at Riyadh International Airport
Houthi militias launched missile attacks on Saudi airports and energy facilities, killing 13 people and prompting a Saudi military response against 136 targets in Yemen.
The Houthi militias launched a series of missile attacks on Saturday and Sunday targeting civilian infrastructure in Saudi Arabia, including King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh and King Fahd International Airport in Dammam. The assaults on the Riyadh airport killed 13 people and injured more than 300, forcing the facility's closure and disrupting thousands of flights. The militia also targeted energy facilities and damaged the Saudi East-West oil pipeline, though Saudi officials later reported that crude oil flows have been restored.
In response, the Government of Saudi Arabia targeted 136 military sites in Yemen. Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman chaired a Cabinet session praising the Armed Forces and the Coalition to Restore Legitimacy in Yemen, asserting that the Houthis will bear the consequences for attacking airports and the holy cities of Makkah and Madinah.
International reactions have been swift. The R4 grouping—comprising Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Pakistan, and Turkiye—issued a joint statement condemning the attacks as violations of international law. Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty demanded an immediate halt to the assaults during a call with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi. While Pakistan and Turkiye have provided military and air defense support through the Mecca Joint Defense Agreement, and the United Kingdom and France pledged assistance, the United States has recently refused to fight alongside the kingdom despite considering more direct strikes against Houthi facilities.
