Saudi authorities said Wednesday that attacks on two of the kingdom's international airports, claimed by Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthi movement, killed three people and wounded 36 others — a dramatic escalation of the conflict between Riyadh and the rebel group. The assault on King Khalid International Airport in the capital and Abha International Airport in the south marked the first time Saudi airports have been struck with lethal effect in the current round of fighting.
The kingdom's General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) said the two airports were targeted in separate attacks on October 6 and 7, prompting an immediate emergency response, according to a statement carried by the Saudi Press Agency, as reported by the Wall Street Journal.
Table of Contents
- What happened at the airports
- The casualties: residents from four continents
- Houthi claims and their warning to airlines
- The coalition's retaliation: 82 targets destroyed
- A new front in the Iran war
- Key takeaways
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Sources
- Read more
What happened at the airports
At Abha International Airport in the southern city of Abha, near the Yemeni border, the attack killed two residents — a Moroccan woman and an Algerian woman — and wounded 28 others with injuries ranging from minor to serious, GACA said. The wounded included Saudi citizens as well as Bangladeshi and Filipino residents.
A day later, King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh came under attack. One Sudanese resident was killed and eight others were wounded — five Saudi citizens, two Egyptian residents and a Pakistani resident — with injuries ranging from minor to critical. All the injured were taken to hospitals, and both attacks caused material damage to airport facilities.
The Houthis claimed responsibility for both strikes. Military spokesman Yahya Saree said the group targeted Riyadh's airport with drones and Abha's airport with ballistic missiles and drones.
The casualties: residents from four continents
The victim list underscores how deeply the strikes cut into the kingdom's vast expatriate population. Two Saudi officials familiar with the matter told the Journal that the group has been using missiles to target the kingdom's airports this week. Riyadh has issued new warnings that filming and sharing images of drone and missile attacks — or of their interception — could bring legal charges, suggesting the government is eager to control the narrative around the attacks.
Houthi claims and their warning to airlines
The strikes followed an explicit threat: the Houthis had previously warned "all international airlines using Saudi airspace" to halt their flights, except those over the Muslim holy cities of Mecca and Medina. As Chronicle reported earlier today, several international carriers have already suspended flights to Riyadh as Houthi missiles targeted the capital and airline crews were offered bonuses to sail — and fly — through the region's war zones.
The coalition's retaliation: 82 targets destroyed
The Saudi-led coalition responded with force. Coalition spokesman Maj. Gen. Turki Al-Maliki said on Thursday that its forces had destroyed 82 Houthi military targets across Yemen in response to attacks on civilian infrastructure. The strikes hit missile storage facilities, command centers, communications systems and other military positions in the Yemeni governorates of Saada, Al-Hudaydah, Al-Jawf and Marib.
Separately, the coalition said it destroyed a ballistic missile launch platform in Sanaa that had been used to launch attacks on the Saudi capital. The AP noted it could not independently verify these claims.
A new front in the Iran war
The attacks deepen the Saudi-Houthi conflict that has erupted during the U.S. war with Iran. The Houthis seized a wide swath of territory in a recent lightning offensive against Saudi-backed Yemeni forces, giving the group more control over the crucial Bab el-Mandeb waterway. Saudi and Yemeni forces have since pressed a counteroffensive to oust the rebels from the strategic port city of Mokha and ease the threat to energy exports through the narrow strait — while, as Chronicle has reported, Syria has been in talks with Saudi Arabia about sending troops to join the fight in Yemen.
Yemen's internationally recognized government declared a major counter-offensive this week and claims to have pushed Houthi fighters out of strategic areas on the Red Sea, though the Houthis say they are holding their ground — and military sources on both sides told the Associated Press that no major changes on the ground could be confirmed.
Key takeaways
- Houthi-claimed attacks on Riyadh's and Abha's airports killed three people and wounded 36 in strikes on October 6 and 7.
- Victims were mostly foreign residents — Moroccans, Algerians, Sudanese, Egyptians, Pakistanis, Bangladeshis and Filipinos.
- The Saudi-led coalition says it destroyed 82 Houthi military targets in retaliatory strikes across Yemen.
- The Houthis had warned international airlines to halt flights in Saudi airspace; several carriers have suspended Riyadh services.
- Saudi authorities warned that filming or sharing images of the attacks could bring legal charges.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who claimed responsibility for the Saudi airport attacks?
The Houthis claimed responsibility for both attacks. Their military spokesman Yahya Saree said the group targeted King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh with drones and Abha International Airport with ballistic missiles and drones. Saudi civil aviation authorities did not blame any party in their official statement.
How many people were killed and wounded?
Three people were killed and 36 wounded. At Abha International Airport, a Moroccan and an Algerian resident were killed and 28 people wounded. At Riyadh's King Khalid International Airport, a Sudanese resident was killed and eight people were wounded.
How did the Saudi-led coalition respond?
Coalition spokesman Maj. Gen. Turki Al-Maliki said forces destroyed 82 Houthi military targets across Yemen, hitting missile storage facilities, command centers and communications systems in Saada, Al-Hudaydah, Al-Jawf and Marib governorates.
What did the Houthis warn airlines about?
Before the strikes, the Houthis warned "all international airlines using Saudi airspace" to halt their flights, except those over the Muslim holy cities of Mecca and Medina. Several international carriers have since suspended flights to Riyadh.
Sources
- The Wall Street Journal — "Houthis Escalate Attacks on Saudi Airports, Killing 3 and Wounding Dozens"
- Associated Press (via Business Standard) — "3 killed as Houthi attacks hit Saudi airports in Abha, Riyadh: Officials"
- NDTV — "Saudi Says 3 Killed In Houthi Attacks On Its Airports As Conflict Deepens"
