Saudi Arabia extends airport closure as Houthis warn 'worse is yet to come'

Yemen's Houthi rebels have warned airlines and airport workers to avoid Saudi Arabian airports, following an attack on Riyadh's international airport that killed 12 people and injured over 300 others. The Houthi statement comes a day after the deadly assault, which marks the deadliest such incident in the kingdom in over a decade.

The group maintains that further Saudi military actions in Yemen will prompt a stronger response, while world leaders have called for de-escalation and protection of civilian lives. The Houthis specifically cautioned against using Saudi airports and airspace, with the exception of airports in Mecca and Medina. They urged everyone to take their warnings seriously and asserted that Saudi Arabia bears responsibility for any failed interceptions.

Saudi authorities announced that schools in the capital would remain online until the end of the week, while the kingdom extended an ongoing airport closure until at least 9pm on Sunday. The Saudi embassy in Kuwait stated it was organizing buses to help citizens return to the kingdom after flight cancellations due to the attacks.

Yemen's Houthi-run foreign ministry warned that additional Saudi military actions would result in a stronger response, emphasizing that their actions would be guided by reciprocity. The Houthi-led health ministry reported 91 Yemenis killed and 168 injured by the Saudi-led coalition in five weeks, with 60% of victims being women and children.

International leaders, including the UN Secretary-General, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, and the European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, have condemned the attack, with Guterres describing it as a violation of international law and calling for it to cease immediately. The UK Defence Minister and German Foreign Minister also condemned the attack, describing it as a terrorist act against Saudi Arabia and civil aviation.