King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh has been hit by a projectile for the second consecutive day, according to Saudi military officials and civil aviation authorities. The latest incident caused a fire in one of the passenger terminals and resulted in reported injuries, amid an escalating series of attacks targeting infrastructure within Saudi Arabia.
Major General Turki al-Maliki, a spokesman for the Saudi-led military coalition, stated that air defence systems intercepted a missile near the capital’s international airport on Sunday. However, an unknown projectile struck Passenger Hall No 4, initiating a blaze that emergency crews worked to manage. Saudi Arabia’s civil aviation authority confirmed that people were injured during the strike.
Deadly Attacks and Claims of Responsibility
The Sunday strike follows an attack on the same airport a day earlier that killed 13 people and injured 308 others. Officials reported that the deceased included four Saudi citizens, two Bangladeshi nationals, and individuals from the United States, Jordan, Palestine, Syria, Sudan, Egypt, and India. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirmed the death of an American citizen, while foreign governments issued updated travel warnings for the region.
The Houthi movement in Yemen stated that it conducted the strikes using a combination of ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, and drones. Houthi military spokesman Brigadier General Yahya Saree said the group targeted airports in Riyadh and Dammam, as well as energy facilities. Saree issued warnings to commercial airlines and declared that all Saudi airports, excluding those in Mecca and Medina, remain potential targets for ongoing operations.
International Reaction and Escalating Conflict
The recent violence follows the collapse in July of a temporary ceasefire that had been brokered in 2022. The Houthis, who hold approximately a quarter of Yemen’s territory and 80 percent of its population, stated their actions were in response to Saudi Arabia’s involvement in Yemen’s civil war and a reported air strike on Sanaa International Airport.
Following the deadly strikes, US President Donald Trump indicated that the United States would determine a course of action rapidly regarding potential strikes against Houthi forces. Meanwhile, UK Defence Secretary Wes Streeting noted that Britain could potentially offer further assistance to Saudi Arabia. Officials from Yemen’s internationally recognised government have called on regional and international partners to take decisive action in response to the attacks.
Source: BBC News
