Plane billows smoke at Riyadh airport as Houthis escalate attacks
RIYADH/DUBAI: Yemen’s Houthis escalated their campaign of strikes against Saudi Arabia on Thursday, trying to shut down the kingdom’s airspace and oil facilities with missile fire that has killed three people this week. The group said it had struck Riyadh airport , where witnesses saw smoke billowing from a plane, and it warned workers to stay away from energy plants. Saudi officials said debris…
Yemen's Houthis escalated their attacks against Saudi Arabia on Thursday, targeting the country's airspace and oil facilities in a bid to disrupt operations and further escalate the conflict. The group claimed responsibility for missile strikes that damaged three people this week, including an incident at Riyadh airport where witnesses observed smoke billowing from a plane.
Saudi officials reported that debris from an intercepted missile had struck a kindergarten and a medical complex. Several airlines, including Lufthansa and Air India, suspended flights to Riyadh in response to the Houthi attacks. Saudi Arabia contends that its involvement in Yemen is aimed at assisting the UN-recognized government in reclaiming territory from the Houthis.
The ongoing conflict, fueled by the broader US-Iran war, has exacerbated tensions in the region, raising concerns about further involvement from neighboring states. Saudi Arabia has sought support from allies like Pakistan and Turkey to counter the Houthis, who have now set their sights on Saudi airports and energy facilities. The kingdom's plea for assistance has intensified, particularly in light of Houthi attacks on Riyadh and Abha airports, which resulted in the cancellation of over 50% of departures and 31 more expected in Friday's flights.
The Houthis have consistently targeted Saudi airports, with Saudi-led forces countering their aggression by destroying two ballistic missiles launched towards Riyadh and another towards Khamis Mushayt. Saudi authorities confirmed that the smoke seen at Riyadh airport was caused by a burning commercial plane, though the exact origin of the fire remains unclear.
Booms reported near Riyadh prompted some multinational firms in the King Abdullah Financial District to recommend remote work, while authorities did not officially issue a warning. The ongoing crisis has displaced 200,000 people, contributing to a humanitarian emergency in the impoverished Arab nation. Meanwhile, Syria is reportedly considering both defensive and offensive military support to assist Saudi Arabia in its fight against the Houthis.
Turkey has pledged defensive and technical aid, with military equipment and intelligence sharing among the expected offerings.
Written by urgent.news from Business Recorder's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
