Houthis issue new threat to Saudi airspace after deadly airport attack

On Sunday, Yemen's Houthi rebels issued a new threat to Saudi Arabia's airspace following a deadly attack on the kingdom's international airport in Riyadh that killed 12 people and wounded hundreds. This marked the deadliest assault on Saudi soil in over a decade, reflecting the escalating conflict in Yemen, where Saudi Arabia supports the internationally recognized government against the Houthi rebels, who recently gained control of the Red Sea coast.

While the Houthi group did not claim responsibility for the strike, they threatened further attacks on Saudi airports, except for the holy cities of Mecca and Medina, urging passengers to avoid travel. The Saudi-led coalition, fighting the Houthis in Yemen, called the attack a "full-fledged war crime" and vowed to respond. In response, the Houthi media reported two Saudi strikes near Sanaa, controlled by the Houthis, prompting condemnation from the UN special envoy and several world leaders, including US President Donald Trump.

The Saudi civil aviation authority reported that four Saudi citizens, two Bangladeshis, one American, one Egyptian, one Jordanian, one Syrian, one Palestinian, and one Sudanese were killed, with 309 wounded, some in serious condition. The Riyadh airport was suspended operations into Sunday, with runways and radar requiring assessment.

Several embassies in Saudi Arabia warned their citizens to avoid the airport, and health officials activated a mass call-up of doctors. The attack came on the eve of a major Saudi investment conference, which was delayed due to the ongoing US-Iran conflict.