Three killed at Riyadh International airport as Yemen war expands

Smoke and flames engulfed King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh following an attack claimed by Yemen's Iran-backed Houthis. Saudi Arabia reported three fatalities, including a pilot, in the attacks on the international airport. The Yemeni conflict has intensified as the Iran-backed Houthis launched repeated assaults on Saudi targets since their rapid offensive across the Red Sea coast.

The Houthis have targeted Saudi transport hubs, oil facilities, and civilian areas in the world's largest crude exporter. The Saudi civil aviation authority confirmed two attacks on Thursday at Riyadh's airport and a Saudia Airlines plane, resulting in the death of the plane's captain. Both Saudi Arabia and Yemen's government forces, backed by the Saudi coalition, have struggled to push back the Houthis' advance.

Despite a counter-offensive aimed at regaining lost territory, the regional source stated that Riyadh would not negotiate a truce until the Yemeni government recovers all lost land. The attacks prompted diplomats in Riyadh to shelter in place and international schools to implement safety measures while flights were delayed or canceled.

Debris from the explosions damaged a kindergarten and a medical complex in Riyadh. The Houthis, who control Yemen's northwest and major population centers, insist they retain their territory, but conflicting military reports from both sides have not shown significant ground changes.