In brief
Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport was evacuated when a loud explosion was heard on Saturday, with ambulances rushing to the terminal. The attack follows freshly claimed Houthi strikes that killed three Saudi nationals, including a pilot, and marked a surge in escalation between Yemen’s Houthis and the Saudi‑backed coalition. Houthis say they are targeting Saudi Arabia in retaliation for the country’s support for forces in Yemen’s civil war, especially after seizing strategic points along the Red Sea. The incident underscores the growing threat to Saudi infrastructure amid renewed conflict in the region.
King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh was evacuated after a loud explosion was heard on Saturday, according to Reuters and other international agencies. More than a dozen ambulances were seen rushing to the terminal, and Saudi authorities have not yet issued a statement.
The attack follows a day after Houthi rebels – backed by Iran – claimed two attacks that killed three Saudi nationals, including a pilot, and damaged other Saudi airports. The Houthis say they are striking Saudi Arabia in retaliation for what they describe as the government’s support for its forces in Yemen’s civil war.
This latest strike comes amid a renewed escalation between Saudi‑backed forces and the Houthis, who control much of north‑western Yemen and have targeted strategic points along the Red Sea coastline. The conflict has worsened after the Houthis seized key stretches of the Red Sea, including the port of Mokha at the Bab al‑Mandab Strait, a chokepoint for global shipping.
A Saudi‑led coalition was formed in 2015 to stop the Houthis from taking over Yemen from the internationally recognised government. A temporary ceasefire brokered in 2022 began to unravel in July, leading to the Houthis announcing a “maritime embargo” against Saudi Arabia and launching missile and drone attacks on Saudi airports, oil facilities, and tankers in the Red Sea.
