Houthi Attacks Hit Two Saudi Airports, 36 Killed or Injured

Three people were killed and 33 others injured in separate drone and missile attacks by Houthi rebels on two international airports in Saudi Arabia.
The attacks took place on Tuesday (October 6) and Wednesday (October 7) at Abha International Airport in southern Saudi Arabia and King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh.
Saudi Arabia’s General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) said two women were killed in the attack on Abha airport. They were nationals of Morocco and Algeria. Another 28 people were injured, including Saudi, Bangladeshi and Filipino nationals.
At King Khalid International Airport, a Sudanese national was killed and eight others were injured. The injured included five Saudi nationals, two Egyptians and a Pakistani national.
The injured were taken to hospitals, GACA said. Authorities are assessing the damage and reviewing security measures at both airports.
Meanwhile, the Saudi-led coalition said it had intercepted a ballistic missile north of Riyadh. It also claimed to have destroyed a missile launch site in Yemen’s capital, Sana’a, used to launch attacks on Riyadh.
The attacks have raised concerns over Saudi Arabia’s aviation and energy infrastructure. On September 18, the Saudi-led coalition said it had intercepted a Houthi ballistic missile fired towards Riyadh. The following day, explosions were heard near King Khalid airport and black smoke was seen over a fuel storage area.
The Houthis also attacked Yemen’s Aden International Airport with ballistic missiles and drones on Wednesday. No casualties were reported. However, one flight was diverted to Jeddah.
The renewed fighting between Saudi Arabia and the Houthis is linked to clashes over strategic areas in Yemen. Saudi-backed Yemeni government forces have recently intensified operations against the Houthis along the Red Sea coast and near the Bab al-Mandab Strait, a key global trade route.
Fighting has also intensified around Bab al-Mandab and Mocha. The Saudi-led coalition has carried out airstrikes on Houthi positions while supporting Yemeni government forces in ground operations.
Meanwhile, the US Embassy in Riyadh issued a new security alert for American citizens in Saudi Arabia. It urged them to remain vigilant and follow security instructions from Saudi authorities.