Saudia pilot among three dead after Houthi attacks on Riyadh airport

RIYADH, October 9 — Saudi Arabia announced three fatalities, including a pilot, in attacks on the capital’s international airport following claims by Yemen’s Houthis of a series of strikes on the facility. The ongoing conflict between the Houthis, backed by Iran, and the Saudi-backed Yemeni government has escalated, with the latter retaliating against Houthi targets since their incursion into Yemen.

The Houthis have launched attacks on various Saudi objectives, including transport hubs, oil facilities, and civilian areas within the world’s largest exporter of crude oil. The Saudi Civil Aviation Authority reported that two incidents at the nation's airport and a Saudi Airlines plane resulted in the deaths of three individuals.

The airline expressed deep sorrow, attributing the incident to an "event" at King Khalid International Airport. Both Saudi Arabia and its backer's efforts to quell the Houthi advance have proven challenging, despite a counter-offensive intended to reclaim lost territory, including the crucial Bab al-Mandab Strait. A regional source indicated that Riyadh would not concede to the Houthis' "military blackmail" and would not accept a truce until the Yemeni government reclaims all the territory it has relinquished in recent weeks.

The attacks prompted diplomats in Riyadh to seek refuge indoors and international schools to implement safety measures, as explosions shook the city. Numerous flights at King Khalid International Airport faced delays or cancellations, and the airport advised travelers to contact airlines prior to their journeys. The kingdom’s civil defense agency reported that "debris from interceptions" had damaged a kindergarten and a medical complex in Riyadh, though it did not disclose any injuries or further specifics on the damage.

The Houthis, predominantly Zaidi Shia Muslims in the northwest of Yemen, have controlled the capital Sanaa and most major population centers since the onset of the war in 2014. Saudi Arabia intervened the following year to back the government. After declaring their counter-offensive against the Houthis, Yemen’s government claimed to have driven the fighters from strategic areas on the Red Sea coast and the port city of Mocha.

However, Houthi representatives maintain their control, and military sources from both sides have not reported any significant shifts in the battlefield. A Houthi military spokesman, Yahya Saree, confirmed that the group launched missile attacks on an airport in Najran and an airbase in Khamis Mushait, among other targets. Houthi leaders have warned oil facility workers to evacuate, following a recent strike on a major refinery south of the capital.

While Saudi authorities have been sparing in admitting civilian casualties, several incidents have emerged in recent weeks. Reports by warring parties' claims remain unverified, with the rapidly evolving situation making it difficult for journalists to gain access. In Yemen, a country grappling with extreme poverty, civilians are bearing the brunt of the renewed violence, with over 200,000 people displaced since July, according to UN data.

In Taiz, the western Yemeni city under Houthi siege, residents face dire shortages of essential supplies, including water, gas, and vegetables. "There is a crisis in everything: water, gas, vegetables, everything essential," stated Um Rian.