Riyadh airport halts ops after attack leaves several injured

An attack on King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia's capital, necessitated the temporary suspension of airport operations on Saturday. The Saudi civil aviation authority reported that several individuals were injured during the assault, though the severity of their injuries remains under evaluation. The suspension allowed authorities to assess the damage and carry out safety inspections.

This occurrence marked the latest in a series of attacks aimed at Saudi Arabia's aviation infrastructure. Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthi militia has intensified missile and drone assaults on neighboring Saudi Arabia over the past few weeks, with prior responsibility claimed for incidents targeting Riyadh airport and other kingdom facilities. However, no specific claim was made for Saturday's incident.

Earlier in the week, Saudi aviation authorities disclosed that the airport had been targeted in two separate attacks on Thursday, resulting in the death of three Saudi nationals and injuries to multiple others. These attacks occur amid escalating conflict between Houthis and Saudi-backed government forces in war-torn Yemen. The Houthi insurgency has been battling Yemen's internationally recognized government for over a decade.

A cease-fire signed in 2022 has largely halted the fighting but has failed to lead to a sustainable peace. Intensified hostilities have resurfaced recently, exacerbated by broader conflict involving Iran, further exacerbating Yemen's humanitarian crisis.

Saudi Arabia, a leading oil producer, has previously accused the Houthis of launching attacks on civilian facilities in the kingdom, responding with retaliatory strikes against rebel targets in Yemen.