Evacuations, injuries at Riyadh airport after alleged Houthi attack

On Saturday, Yemen's Houthis launched a missile attack on Riyadh's King Khalid International Airport, according to a diplomatic source speaking to AFP. The attack resulted in dozens of people being wounded, with some witnesses describing scenes of panic within the terminal. While Saudi authorities did not confirm the incident, witnesses reported hearing an explosion and witnessing an attack that left people injured at the domestic terminal.

A local hospital source stated that five patients were in intensive care after being wounded at the airport, with many suffering from injuries to their shoulders and arms caused by shattered glass. Three witnesses confirmed that people were being evacuated from the airport. The diplomatic source emphasized that the Houthis were targeting civilian facilities, noting that the airport was hit by a missile around 3:00 pm (1200 GMT).

Despite claiming attacks on Saudi airports, the Yemen-based Iran-aligned group did not announce any new strikes on the facility on Saturday. The escalation of attacks on Saudi targets, including airports and oil facilities, has intensified since the truce in the Yemeni conflict broke down in July. Saudi Arabia leads a coalition supporting Yemen's government militarily, finding itself increasingly embroiled in the ongoing civil war.

Both Saudi Arabia and the Houthis have signaled their intent to continue fighting rather than seek diplomacy. Earlier on Saturday, Riyadh airport advised passengers to check their flight status before arriving, mirroring an earlier advisory sent on Thursday following the earlier attacks that killed three people, including a Saudia pilot.

The airport had also suffered significant damage from the Houthi-claimed attacks on Thursday, which severely affected a grounded Saudia plane. Meanwhile, in Yemen, Saudi-backed government forces advanced against the Houthis in areas captured last month around the Bab al-Mandab strait, a crucial chokepoint for Red Sea oil and cargo shipping.

The Yemeni government announced a counter-offensive to retake all areas held by the Houthis, but the Houthis claimed to have repelled the assault. However, claims from both sides remain unverified, as the rapidly changing situation on the ground makes verification difficult due to limited access for journalists.