An attack on King Khalid International Airport in Saudi Arabia’s capital Riyadh caused injuries on Sunday afternoon. The airport in Riyadh remains closed after the Houthi attack on Saturday that killed 13 people and wounded more than 300 others. Another attack on Sunday killed one person and injured 11. In a statement, the Saudi aviation authority said it was assessing the damage and inspecting the facilities at King Khalid International Airport to check the safety of the airport.
What happened during the attack?
On Saturday, the strike at Riyadh killed 13 people, and 308 were left injured. The civil aviation authority claimed that another attack on Sunday killed one person and injured 11. A Saudi military spokesman said a projectile had hit King Khalid International Airport on Sunday, causing a fire in the passenger hall. The attacks on Saudi Arabia’s King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh occurred as Yemen’s Houthis escalated their campaign launched against the kingdom.
Authorities cancelled 82 per cent of all flights from the airport, according to aviation analytics firm Cirium, which added that the number could actually be higher. According to Reuters, Cirium added that cancellations across all Saudi airports reached 46.4 per cent.
Saudi Information Minister Salman Al-Dosari said on Monday that Saudi Arabia was prepared for various scenarios, regardless of their likelihood, stressing that life was continuing normally despite repeated Houthi attacks. Speaking at a government press conference in Riyadh, according to the Saudi Press Agency, Al-Dosari said:
“Life in the kingdom, praise be to God, continues normally.”
“Increasing readiness does not mean anxiety; rather, it reflects the state’s preparedness for various scenarios, whatever the likelihood of their occurrence.”
Anwar Gargash, Emirati minister of state for foreign affairs, wrote on social media and said:
“It has become clear that we are all targeted, and that our security is indivisible,” he wrote on social media, adding that attacks on Saudi Arabia “undermine the security of the UAE and all Gulf states”.
Why are the Houthis attacking Saudi Arabia?
The Houthis in Yemen said they were behind these attacks, warning airlines and passengers against using Saudi Arabian airports and airspace. The group targeted the airport with a mix of ballistic and cruise missiles, including drones. They had also attacked Dammam Airport in Eastern Saudi Arabia.
They have been targeting Saudi Arabia over its support for government forces in Yemen’s civil war, as well as an air strike in Sanaa. In recent weeks, the Houthis have stepped up their attacks on Saudi Arabian soil.
The civil war in Yemen is supported by Saudi Arabia, and the Houthis (who are backed by Iran) have been responding to this disarray by launching missiles and drones at Saudi Arabian facilities.
US President Donald Trump has said the US would “make a decision” and “move very quickly” on whether to strike the Houthis, while UK Defence Secretary Wes Streeting suggested the UK could “potentially” provide more support for Saudi Arabia.
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