Saudi civil aviation authorities said two Houthi attacks on Thursday killed three nationals at King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh and injured others, damaging a Saudia aircraft; operations later returned to normal.
Saudi Arabia's General Authority of Civil Aviation said on Friday that attacks the previous day on King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh killed three Saudi nationals and injured a number of citizens and residents. One attack hit airport facilities and a second struck a Saudia aircraft.
The Houthis claimed they launched ballistic missiles at the airport and other sites. A Saudia pilot was among those killed, the airline stated. Smoke was reported over the airport and many airlines cancelled flights to the capital.
Air traffic returned to normal later, according to the civil aviation authority. The strikes form part of an escalation linked to the broader conflict involving Iran-aligned forces.
A Saudi-led coalition said it destroyed three Houthi missile launch platforms and warned of a firm response to attacks on civilians. Earlier attacks this week on other Saudi airports had already caused casualties.
No further immediate casualty updates beyond the three deaths were issued in the Friday statements used here. The airport is scheduled to host an international oil meeting in coming days.
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- Saudi authorities confirmed the three deaths and injuries.
- The Houthis claimed responsibility for the missile strikes.
- Airlines cancelled flights amid the disruption.