Riyadh Airport Attacked by Projectile Following Deadly Missile Strike

CAIRO (AP) — A projectile struck a passenger terminal at the international airport in Riyadh on Sunday, a day after a missile hit the same terminal, resulting in 12 fatalities, according to the Saudi-led coalition fighting Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen. The Houthis claimed responsibility for these attacks and others. Saudi authorities reported injuries from the latest attack on the King Khalid International Airport complex, specifically terminals 3 and 4, which serve domestic flights. The missile attack on Saturday was noted as the deadliest in a Gulf Arab nation since the onset of the Iran war, with an additional 300 individuals wounded, some critically. The airport remained closed on Sunday. This escalation in conflict raises concerns about increased U.S. military involvement, as President Donald Trump indicated he is considering joining the fight against the Houthis. There was no immediate comment from the White House on Sunday. India's embassy in Saudi Arabia confirmed that one of its citizens died on Sunday from injuries sustained in Saturday's attack, bringing the total death toll to 13. Saudi authorities also reported that King Fahd International Airport in Dammam had been attacked, although details were limited. Smoke and flames were observed at King Khalid Airport following the Houthis' claim of responsibility for the attack, as shown in a social media video. The latest strike in Riyadh coincided with the Houthis' announcement of another attack on the airport in the rebel-held Yemeni capital of Sanaa, for which they blamed Saudi forces. The situation poses risks to global oil supplies and prices, as well as commercial shipping through an alternative route to the Iran-threatened Strait of Hormuz. Trump mentioned plans to discuss the situation with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who is seeking assistance. A U.S. intervention could potentially lead the Houthis to disrupt shipping through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait at the southern end of the Red Sea, further limiting oil flow from the Persian Gulf. The rebels have recently seized key areas along the strait, prompting the Saudi-led coalition to attempt to regain control. Saudi Arabia is reportedly running low on missile interceptors and has requested air defense support from France, Britain, Pakistan, and Egypt, according to regional officials. The attack on Sunday occurred during a major international energy conference in Riyadh, with other significant events planned. Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has aimed to enhance Saudi Arabia's global business and tourism image, but the Houthi attacks pose challenges to these efforts. Saudi Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman Al Saud stated, "There is no way that somebody will break our back. We are like a phoenix, we come out of the ashes all the time." He also mentioned ongoing work on pipelines in addition to the East-West pipeline that was previously attacked and closed for several days. Earlier on Sunday, the Houthi-run health ministry reported that a child was killed and six others wounded in a suspected Saudi airstrike on a house in Sanaa. The ministry also stated that 91 Yemenis have died due to the Saudi-led coalition's actions in the past five weeks, with 60% of the casualties being women and children. Saudi authorities did not immediately respond to these claims. The Houthis also claimed responsibility for the attack on the airport in Dammam and for attacks on oil and gas facilities in eastern Saudi Arabia. They have targeted the Riyadh airport, which lacks military facilities, daily since Wednesday. The rebels warned all airlines, experts, employees, workers, and travelers against using Saudi airports and airspace, citing vulnerability to attacks. Several international airlines have suspended flights for varying durations. The fatalities from Saturday's attack included four Saudi citizens, two Bangladeshi nationals, a Palestinian, a U.S. citizen, an Egyptian, a Jordanian, a Syrian, and a Sudanese. The Egyptian woman was identified as Azza Ramzy, a flight attendant for Saudi airline Flynas, according to Egyptian state-run TV. The Syrian woman was identified as Buthaina Ahmad Oweida, a widowed mother living in Saudi Arabia, according to a relative. The Houthis had previously been on the sidelines of the Iran war but have developed military capabilities in recent years, becoming a significant ally of Tehran. They are now exerting pressure on a key U.S. ally. The conflict between the Saudis and the Houthis began in 2015 when Saudi Arabia intervened in Yemen's civil war on behalf of the internationally recognized government. A ceasefire in 2022 ended in July when the Houthis resumed attacks, claiming that the Saudis fired on the Sanaa airport while a plane from Iran was attempting to land. The renewed conflict has reignited anger over the Saudi-led blockade that has isolated Houthi-controlled areas, with the rebels asserting that they have imposed a blockade on Saudi Arabia. Fighting has intensified, with the Saudi-led coalition providing air support for Yemeni government forces aiming to reverse recent Houthi advances near the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, a crucial alternative to the Strait of Hormuz, where Iran has targeted ships. Ahmed Nagi, a senior analyst for Yemen at the International Crisis Group, commented that Houthi pressure tactics could backfire, stating, "Rather than pushing Riyadh to step back, attacks on critical Saudi infrastructure could make the Saudis more determined to continue the campaign."