Saudi Arabia vows serious response after Houthi airport attacks kill 18

Saudi Arabia announced a serious response to a series of Houthi attacks on its international airport that claimed 18 lives, as the country continues to navigate an expensive economic reform program aimed at attracting foreign investment. The Houthi-led civil war in Yemen, supported by a Saudi-led military coalition against Iran-backed rebels, has intensified, causing energy markets to tremble and the Middle East to spiral into crisis.

Energy minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman emphasized at an energy conference that the country's infrastructure, institutions, and people have been tested by these unprecedented circumstances, and the response must be equally severe.

The deadliest attack took place on Saturday, resulting in 13 deaths and hundreds of injuries at King Khalid International Airport, which is the most lethal assault on Saudi soil in over a decade. Subsequent strikes on Wednesday, Thursday, and Sunday resulted in four and one more death, respectively. The airport's operations were suspended on Monday, and CCTV footage of the Saturday attack revealed a flash of fire that engulfed the building, scattering flaming debris across the scene.

Riyadh's capital remained on high alert as state broadcaster Al Ekhbariya reported that the military coalition was responding to drone and missile threats, and Australia's embassy advised citizens to shelter in place. The Houthis claimed several attacks over the past 24 hours, including the airport, and vowed to continue targeting Saudi transit hubs as "a theatre of operations for our forces."

Meanwhile, the coalition claimed another projectile struck Riyadh airport, setting off a fire, and air defenses intercepted a missile nearby.

The Houthi attacks on oil, military, and transport facilities have stretched Saudi defenses, according to a security analyst from Ottawa University, Thomas Juneau. While Saudi air defenses have intercepted some attacks, the vastness of the country makes consistent defense challenging. The anti-Houthi coalition condemned the attack as a "full-fledged war crime" and vowed to respond decisively. Iran, which backs the Houthis, expressed deep concern over the recent escalation.