Houthis claim attack on Riyadh airport as airlines suspend flights to Saudi capital

Saudi Arabia has not commented on claims, but confirmed three killed in airport strikes earlier this week.

Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthis say they have struck Saudi Arabia’s Riyadh airport with a ballistic missile, causing significant damage to a plane and prompting several airlines to suspend flights to the capital. The group did not provide any evidence for their claim, and Saudi Arabia has not immediately responded.

According to three sources briefed on the matter, shrapnel from an interception or another projectile severely damaged a Saudia Airlines commercial plane, which caught fire while parked at a terminal on Thursday. Fortunately, no passengers were believed to be on board at the time, but injuries could not be ruled out.

Witnesses reported hearing explosions in Riyadh, including a large blast at King Khalid International Airport. One witness told the Associated Press that fire and ambulance crews were deployed to the scene. A video verified by Reuters showed a thick black column of smoke and flames rising from the airport.