Indian killed in Riyadh airport attack: As Houthis advance, what are Saudi Arabia’s options?

On Sunday, a Houthi strike targeted Riyadh’s international airport, following a deadly attack the previous day that killed at least a dozen people and halted airport operations. This marked a significant escalation in the Yemeni conflict, where Saudi Arabia supports the internationally recognized government against the Houthis. The group claimed multiple attacks over the past 24 hours, including on the airport, and threatened further strikes on key transit hubs, labeling them "a theatre of operations for our forces."

Houthi spokesman Yahya Saree stated that their group carried out four "qualitative operations" in the past day, targeting Riyadh, Dammam, and Aramco facilities. Saudi forces reported a projectile striking the airport, causing a fire, and air defenses intercepted an additional missile nearby. Local residents reported hearing multiple blasts and felt the ground shake. The Saudi coalition confirmed an unspecified number of injuries and initiated a damage assessment.

The civil aviation authority reported unspecified injuries, and a damage assessment was underway. Houthi attacks on Riyadh airport, which killed three people on Thursday, have intensified, along with strikes on other crucial targets in the world's leading oil exporter. Despite Saudi Arabia's substantial military investments, the Houthis continue to breach defenses.

Thomas Juneau, a security analyst at Ottawa University, noted that the intercepts are possible due to the vastness of Saudi Arabia, making constant defense challenging.

The anti-Houthi coalition labeled Saturday's attack a "full-fledged war crime" and vowed a decisive response. Houthi media reported two Saudi strikes in Yemen's Houthi-controlled Sanaa governorate on Sunday. The UN and world leaders, including US President Donald Trump, condemned the attack, with Trump considering joining Saudi strikes against the Houthis.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu denounced the "horrific terrorist attack." Four Saudi citizens, two Bangladeshis, one American, one Egyptian, one Jordanian, one Syrian, one Palestinian, and one Sudanese were killed, with 309 wounded, including one of the Indian embassy's citizens. The US, Canadian, German, and Spanish embassies in Saudi Arabia warned citizens to avoid the airport, while Australia advised sheltering in place.

Saturday's strike marked the deadliest attack on Riyadh airport since a 2015 suicide bombing, occurring on the eve of Saudi Arabia's high-profile convention and entertainment season. This attack, typically associated with the high Umrah pilgrimage season, illustrates the Houthis' intent to alter the rules of engagement. Saudi-led coalition forces continue military operations in Yemen to counter Houthi advances, particularly around the Bab al-Mandab Strait, a vital shipping route.

Both sides have reported conflicting claims, with limited independent verification possible due to rapid developments and restricted access for journalists.