Plane hit, pilot killed: Riyadh airport attacks by Houthi kill 3, damages Saudia aircraft
Houthi rebels have claimed responsibility for attacks on Saudi Arabia's King Khalid International Airport, resulting in the death of a pilot and damage to a Saudia Airlines aircraft. Saudi coalition forces responded by targeting 82 military sites in Yemen, while the Indian Embassy has issued safety advisories for its citizens in the region.
Why it matters
The escalation of attacks on civilian infrastructure in Saudi Arabia poses significant risks to regional stability and international aviation safety.
Three Saudi nationals were killed and several others injured in two attacks on King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh and a Saudia Airlines aircraft on Thursday, Saudi Arabia’s general authority of civil aviation said on Friday.The first attack targeted airport facilities, while the second struck the aircraft, the authority said. It did not identify those responsible, although Iran-backed Houthi rebels in neighbouring Yemen claimed to have targeted the airport, as cited by AP.Saudia Airlines has confirmed that a pilot was killed and an aircraft was damaged in the attack.Operations at King Khalid International Airport have since resumed, with air traffic returning to normal, according to the civil aviation authority.The attacks come amid a heightened security situation in Saudi Arabia following separate strikes on Abha International Airport and King Khalid International Airport on October 6 and 7. Those attacks left three people dead and 36 injured, according to the authority.
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