Yemen's Houthis warn passengers not to use Saudi airports

Yemeni Houthi rebels have cautioned passengers against utilizing airports in Saudi Arabia following a deadly missile strike on Riyadh airport. The assault, which resulted in at least 12 fatalities and over 300 injuries, marks the most lethal attack in a Gulf Arab nation since the onset of the Iran conflict. The Yemeni armed forces reiterated their warning to aviation and navigation entities, experts, employees, workers, and travelers to avoid using Saudi airports and airspace, according to military spokesman Yahya Saree on the social media platform X. Saree asserted that the airports and airspace are susceptible to being targeted and serve as a battleground for their forces, though he specified that Mecca and Medina, the two most sacred cities in Islam, would remain untouched.

He emphasized the gravity of the rebels' warning, stating that Saudi Arabia bears responsibility for not intercepting the missiles that struck the airport on Saturday. Riyadh airport, devoid of military installations, suspended operations following the attack on Saturday. The closure of the airport has been extended until at least 9 p.m. on Sunday.

Although the Houthis have not officially claimed responsibility, Saudi officials have attributed the Saturday attack on the capital's airport to the Iran-backed rebel faction. The Saudi-led coalition, backing the Yemeni government against the Houthi rebels, has vowed a stern response to the attack, deeming it a "fully-fledged war crime."

The missile strike on Riyadh occurred amid a surge in Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia this week, targeting additional airports, military installations, and oil facilities. These incidents have escalated following a significant military offensive by the Saudi-led coalition against the Houthis. The rebels, one of Iran's regional allies, have been waging war against Yemen's internationally recognized government since the start of a civil war over a decade ago.

Although a truce in 2022 halted the conflict, it did not yield a lasting peace agreement. The US-Israeli war with Iran has reignited fighting in Yemen, exacerbating an already dire humanitarian crisis. European leaders expressed shock at the attack on Riyadh airport, with EU President Ursula von der Leyen condemning the "dangerous escalation" and German Foreign Minister Stefan Weyrich firmly denouncing the "terrorist act against Saudi Arabia and civil aviation," expressing condolences to the victims' families.