Saudi airports attacks by Houthi rebels kill 3
Three individuals lost their lives in assaults on Saudi Arabian airports attributed to Houthi rebels from Yemen, reported Saudi authorities on Wednesday. The General Authority for Civil Aviation in Saudi Arabia did not assign blame for the incidents at Abha and Riyadh's King Khalid international airports, but the Houthi rebels claimed responsibility.
At Abha airport, Moroccan and Algerian residents sustained injuries, while a Sudanese national was killed and eight others injured at King Khalid airport. In response to the heightened tensions, Saudi Arabia bolstered security measures, constructing protective barriers around fuel tanks and other critical infrastructure near the capital's airport.
The kingdom has become a target for attacks in recent days, putting oil and military assets at risk, threatening an alternative shipping route to the Strait of Hormuz, where traffic is currently limited due to the ongoing conflict with Iran. A coalition led by Saudi forces is battling the Houthis, intercepting a ballistic missile north of Riyadh and destroying a platform used to launch attacks on the Saudi capital, though these claims have not been independently confirmed.
The Saudi-led coalition and allied Yemeni forces are conducting a significant ground and air campaign to reclaim territories seized by the Houthis last month along Yemen's western Red Sea coast and the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, which facilitates about 12% of global trade. The Houthis are pushing for control over strategic areas in Yemen, believing they can inflict economic burdens on Saudi Arabia and force a surrender to their demands.
Recent gains include the recapture of key areas around the Bab el-Mandeb strait, where the rebels claim control, while the government denies these assertions. Allegations of civilian targets being hit in Yemen's capital, Sanaa, and other regions remain unverified. The Houthis have also claimed responsibility for missile strikes targeting Aden's airport and a military camp near the city's airport, though no casualties were reported.
Written by urgent.news from The Economic Times's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
