후티, 사우디 수도 공항 공격으로 12명 사망·309명 부상…이란 전쟁 이후 걸프 국가의 최대 피해

A Saudi Arabian international airport in Riyadh was attacked by Yemeni Houthi forces, resulting in the death of 12 people and injuries to over 309 individuals. This marks the greatest damage to a Gulf Arab state since the Yemeni war following the Iran war in February. On October 10, Riyadh's King Khalid International Airport was struck by a missile, causing the fatalities and extensive injuries.

The Saudi aviation authority confirmed that among the 12 deceased, four were Saudi citizens and one was an American. Of the 309 injured, some have been reported as being in critical condition. This attack followed the Yemeni civil war that began in September 2014 and the Iran war that started on February 28. The Houthi forces responded to a Saudi-led coalition's announcement of a large-scale counter-attack after the coalition announced plans to recapture Houthi-occupied territories on October 4.

Shortly after the attack, US President Donald Trump stated that the US was reviewing whether to support Saudi-led attacks. He said, "I just got the news of the attack. We will make a decision and we will move very quickly. We may participate. We will look into it." Houthi military official Mohammed Al-Bukhaiti acknowledged that the attack was in retaliation for Saudi airstrikes, claiming they targeted civilian facilities.

He stated that the purpose was to destroy civilian infrastructure in Yemen, such as airports, harbors, weddings, funerals, hospitals, and markets. Al-Bukhaiti warned that Yemeni facilities would be treated the same as those in other regions. The Houthi attack targeted single-use aircraft carriers, warning Gulf airlines of potential consequences.

Since the resumption of the Yemeni civil war in July, Saudi-led coalition fighter jets have carried out large-scale airstrikes on Houthi forces, with the Houthi side alleging hundreds of casualties, primarily women and children. The Houthi health official, Ansi Al-Azzawi, reported that since September 3, 91 people have died due to airstrikes in Yemen.

In response, the Houthi side has intensified attacks on Saudi facilities. Saudi officials reported that Houthis attacked Riyadh and southern Abha airports in the past week, causing several casualties. The Turkish military spokesman for the Saudi-led coalition, Lieutenant Colonel Turgut Almaliki, reported that a projectile hit near King Khaled International Airport in Saudi eastern region, but provided no further details.

On October 11, Saudi Arabia's Eastern Seaboard, including Abu Dhabi, was seized by Houthi forces, who have since besieged the city of Tikrit. Saudi-led coalition forces have intensified airstrikes on Houthi-occupied territories, while Houthis have retaliated by targeting Saudi domestic facilities. Saudi-led coalition forces have also strengthened their airstrikes on Houthi regions, while Houthis continue to target Saudi domestic facilities.

In this context, Saudi-led coalition forces have intensified airstrikes on Houthi regions, while Houthis continue to target Saudi domestic facilities. As the resumption of the Yemeni civil war spreads to Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Pakistan have announced support for Saudi forces, while Iraq has also indicated its willingness to send troops.

The US has provided indirect support by increasing the deployment of technical personnel. Despite Trump's announcement that he had reviewed the decision to support Saudi-led attacks, it remains unclear whether the US will intervene directly. Saudi Arabia has requested missile defense support from France, Britain, Pakistan, and Egypt, while the US has reduced its stockpile of anti-missile systems due to the Iran war.