Riyadh airport hit by fresh Houthi strike day after deadly attack killed 12

On Sunday, the Riyadh international airport in Saudi Arabia was struck by a fresh Houthi attack, occurring a day after a devastating strike claimed by the same Yemeni group left at least 12 people dead. The Saturday attack, the deadliest on Saudi soil in over a decade, marked a significant escalation in the ongoing Yemeni war, in which Riyadh supports the internationally recognized government against the Houthis.

The Iran-backed group claimed multiple attacks in the past 24 hours, including on the airport, and threatened to continue targeting the kingdom's transit hubs, branding them as "a theatre of operations for our forces". Hours later, the Saudi coalition reported that a projectile had struck the King Khalid International Airport, causing a fire, with air defenses intercepting a nearby missile.

The civil aviation authority stated that the attack resulted in unspecified injuries, with a damage assessment ongoing. Witnesses to the assault described chaos, with people running towards terminal 3 and carrying injured individuals. The incident prompted health officials to mobilize doctors, and several embassies issued warnings to their citizens to avoid Riyadh airport.

This attack, occurring on the eve of Saudi Arabia's high-profile convention and entertainment season, was the deadliest in the kingdom since a 2015 suicide bombing.