An attack on King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on Saturday resulted in at least 12 deaths and over 309 injuries. This attack occurred amid ongoing targeting of civilian aviation facilities in the country.
Details of the Attack
The Saudi Civil Aviation Authority stated in an initial announcement that the airport was the target of the attack. It was further reported that among the 12 dead, four were Saudi, two Bangladeshi, one American, one Egyptian, one Jordanian, one Syrian, one Palestinian, and one Sudanese. All the injured are receiving medical care in several hospitals.
Read more: Donald Trump would have won the Nobel Peace Prize
Operations Halted at the Airport
Following this attack, operations at the airport were suspended until further notice. Local sources reported that new attacks were also directed at King Fahd International Airport in Dammam following this incident. A Saudi official, who wished to remain anonymous, told news agencies that many individuals were injured after a missile struck the passenger terminal.
According to a local medical source, emergency doctors have been called to various hospitals in Riyadh, and the situation has been declared a severe emergency. Several Western embassies in Riyadh, including those of Germany, the United States, Canada, and Spain, have advised their citizens to avoid going to the airport.
Consequences and Reactions
The U.S. embassy stated that it is aware of the attacks at the airport, and the Spanish embassy referred to it as a "new attack" by Houthi forces in Yemen. After the attack, Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Saree reposted a message from the previous day stating that only pre-approved humanitarian flights are allowed to land at Riyadh Airport.
Fighting between Houthi forces and the Saudi-backed government in Yemen has intensified, with Houthis increasing their attacks on targets in Saudi Arabia. Meanwhile, the Saudi-led coalition continues airstrikes on Houthi positions.
Etihad and Qatar Airways have canceled several flights between their hubs and Riyadh, with some cancellations continuing until Monday. Additionally, Kuwait Airways also canceled its flights on Saturday.
The Saudi government announced last week a counter-offensive operation aimed at reclaiming all areas under Houthi control, particularly around the Bab al-Mandab Strait. These attacks reflect the escalation of conflicts in recent years and the complexity of the situation in Yemen.
Read more: A 7.7 Magnitude Earthquake Shakes Panama · FlyDubai Suspends Flights to Israel After Pilot Attack
