Houthi Strike Kills 13 at Riyadh Airport Before Coalition Airstrikes

Thirteen people died and more than 300 were wounded in a Houthi missile attack on King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, marking the deadliest assault on the kingdom in over a decade. The strike occurred earlier this month and forced the facility to close temporarily. Flights resumed on Sunday after the Houthis warned travelers to avoid the site, labeling it a military target.

The violence follows a sharp escalation in the Yemen conflict. Fighting reignited in the summer when the Houthis announced a maritime blockade against Saudi Arabia. A truce that had paused most hostilities collapsed last month, prompting the armed group to launch a rapid offensive. They seized much of Yemen’s Red Sea coast from government forces and began targeting Saudi energy facilities and airports.

In response, the Saudi-led coalition conducted a military operation on Monday aimed at neutralizing sources of threat. Coalition spokesman Turki al-Maliki announced that forces destroyed four ballistic missile launchers and five tunnels used by the Houthis to store missiles. He stated the operation also hit a missile depot and focused on cutting off supply lines between Houthi-controlled areas. The strikes targeted fortifications, troop gatherings, and military equipment along front lines inside Yemen.

The Houthis, also known as Ansar Allah, claimed new attacks on Monday. Military spokesman Yahya Saree said the group struck Riyadh’s airport with a ballistic missile, asserting they hit the target with precision. Al-Maliki countered that Saudi air defenses intercepted and destroyed a ballistic missile launched toward the capital. Saree also claimed responsibility for drone attacks on oil pumping stations in Saudi Arabia and ballistic missile strikes on weapons depots in the Salah al-Din area of Aden governorate and the al-Wahat area of Lahij governorate.

On Sunday, the coalition reported that air defenses intercepted at least 10 ballistic missiles. The kingdom’s civil defense agency reported two people were injured in the south by falling debris, with damage to several buildings and vehicles. Official images showed a building with part of its upper facade destroyed and large windows shattered, leaving glass shards on the pavement.

Yemen’s government launched the Operation Yemen Dawn counteroffensive this month to recapture territory held by the Houthis. Meanwhile, Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis met with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to discuss air defense systems. His office said Mitsotakis agreed to keep a Patriot system battery in Saudi Arabia, which has protected energy infrastructure in Yanbu since 2021.

The Saudi-led coalition continues its operations as both sides claim success in recent exchanges. The airport remains open to traffic, though disruptions continue to affect thousands of passengers. The next phase of the government's counteroffensive is scheduled to proceed as coalition forces monitor Houthi movements along the border.