Yemen's Houthi movement, formally known as Ansar Allah, said on Thursday that it had targeted King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh with a ballistic missile. The claim came as witnesses reported several explosions across the Saudi capital, a day after a separate Houthi drone attack on the same airport killed one person and caused flight delays that continued into Thursday.
Saudi authorities have not yet confirmed the strike, nor have they reported any damage or casualties. Diplomats in Riyadh were instructed to shelter in place in their embassies, and international schools reportedly took precautionary measures as the explosions echoed through the city.
The earlier drone attack on King Khalid airport killed a Sudanese national and wounded eight other people, according to Saudi officials. In a separate strike on Abha airport in the southwestern city of Abha, two people—a Moroccan and an Algerian resident—were killed and 28 others wounded. The Saudi General Authority for Civil Aviation did not attribute blame for either attack.
Major General Turki al-Malki, spokesperson for the Saudi-led coalition fighting the Houthis, said that coalition forces intercepted a ballistic missile north of Riyadh and destroyed a launch platform in Yemen's capital, Sanaa. The Houthis have claimed repeated attacks on Saudi airports in recent days, along with salvos aimed at critical infrastructure and military sites across the kingdom.
Escalation along the Red Sea coast
The strikes come as Saudi Arabia and Yemeni government forces have launched a major ground and air offensive to retake territory that the Houthis seized a month ago along Yemen's western Red Sea coast and near the Bab el-Mandeb strait. On Monday, coalition officials said they had recaptured several key areas around the strait, through which roughly 12% of global trade transits.
The Houthis appear to be betting that striking civilian infrastructure, such as oil facilities and airports, will maximise Saudi economic costs and force Riyadh to yield to their demands, according to the Washington-based Institute for the Study of War. The think tank noted in an analysis that the group believes it can compel Saudi Arabia to surrender by targeting such sites.
The attacks on Saudi facilities also pose a threat to shipping routes that serve as alternatives to the Strait of Hormuz, where traffic has been curtailed due to the ongoing conflict with Iran. The situation has drawn concern from European capitals, which rely on stable energy supplies and maritime trade through the region. The Black Sea drone strikes have already highlighted vulnerabilities in European maritime security, and the Red Sea tensions add another layer of risk.
European Union member states have been monitoring the escalation closely, with some diplomats expressing worry about the potential for wider regional conflict. The bloc has previously called for de-escalation in Yemen and has supported UN-led peace efforts. However, the continued Houthi attacks on Saudi territory complicate those efforts and raise the stakes for global energy markets.
As the situation develops, European observers will be watching whether the Saudi-led coalition's offensive can effectively curb Houthi capabilities, or whether the group's missile and drone campaigns will continue to disrupt regional stability and international trade.
