Houthis repeat strike on Riyadh airport: one killed, 11 injured

Repeated strike on the capital

On 11 October, Riyadh International Airport came under a repeat attack by the Houthis. According to official Saudi authorities, the impact of an unidentified projectile on the terminal caused a fire. One person was killed in the incident, and 11 others were injured.

A witness to the event told Reuters that in the evening of the same day, a projectile hit the runway area near parked aircraft, which caused the fire.

Houthi statements and scale of losses

In a statement released on 11 October, representatives of the group emphasised that Saudi Arabia's airspace and its airports remain vulnerable. An exception was made only for the airports of Mecca and Medina, the holy cities of Islam.

«Ми закликаємо всіх серйозно поставитися до наших попереджень. Саудівська Аравія несе відповідальність за будь-які невдалі перехоплення» ("We call on everyone to take our warnings seriously. Saudi Arabia bears responsibility for any failed interceptions"), the Houthis said.

This incident was a continuation of the tragic events of the previous day. According to Reuters, the 10 October attack on Riyadh airport cost the lives of 12 people, and more than 300 were injured. Among the dead were both Saudi citizens and foreigners. Following that strike, the airport temporarily suspended operations, with the timeline for resuming flights depending on the assessment of the damage.

Attacks on other targets

In addition to the capital, the Houthis attacked other targets. Yahya Sary, a representative of the group's military wing, announced a strike on King Fahd International Airport in Dammam and two facilities of the oil company Saudi Aramco. Saudi aviation authorities confirmed the attack on Dammam, where damage is currently being assessed and infrastructure safety is being checked.

Coalition forces led by Saudi Arabia reported intercepting a cruise missile near King Khalid International Airport. A drone was also shot down in the east of the country, and a ballistic missile heading towards the city of Hamis Mushayt was intercepted by air defence forces.

Reaction from international partners

Against the backdrop of the escalation, the British embassy in Saudi Arabia recommended that its citizens avoid travel to Jeddah, Dammam and other airports, except Medina, unless necessary. US aviation authorities urged American airlines to be cautious during flights to Saudi Arabia and over its territory.

Conflict context

The escalation is occurring against the backdrop of increased Saudi military activity against the Houthis. In recent weeks, the kingdom has intensified airstrikes and supported a counteroffensive by the Yemeni government forces after the Houthis captured strategic territories along the Red Sea coast.

According to the Houthi-controlled Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Saudi Arabia carried out 124 airstrikes on Yemen in the 24 hours leading up to 11 October.

Earlier, Donald Trump stated that Washington is considering joining Saudi strikes on the Houthis. Meanwhile, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said he had discussed with his Saudi counterpart the possibility of facilitating dialogue between Riyadh and Yemen.

Despite the dangerous situation, an international energy conference, WPC Energy, was planned to be held in Riyadh. Meanwhile, local authorities announced that schools in the capital would switch to remote learning from 11 to 15 October.