Houthis claim attack targeting Riyadh airport with ballistic missile

Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree claimed on Monday that the group's armed forces targeted King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh with a precise ballistic missile strike. Saree also stated that a drone was used to target the Khamis Mushait air base. Middle East Eye reported that the Houthi statement included a warning to international airlines regarding the safety of operating flights to Saudi airports, with the exception of Makkah and Madinah.

Conflicting accounts exist regarding the impact of the missile targeting Riyadh. Ajel English reported that coalition forces intercepted and destroyed a ballistic missile fired toward the city, resulting in no reported damage or casualties. However, Business Recorder noted that a Saudi-led coalition stated it had shot down a missile over the capital following the Houthi claim of a precise hit.

Separately, Gulf News reported that an attack on King Khalid International Airport on a Saturday resulted in 13 deaths and 309 injuries, according to figures from the Saudi General Authority of Civil Aviation and the Indian Embassy in Riyadh. One of the deceased was identified as Nasrullah Al Badr, a 35-year-old Bangladeshi Islamic scholar traveling for Umrah. Maj. Gen. Turki Al Maliki, a spokesman for the Saudi-led coalition, accused the Houthis of carrying out that strike.

Brief written by urgent.news from Business Recorder, Middle East Eye, Gulf News, Ajel English, France 24 — 5 reports on this story. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.