Riyadh International Airport Struck Again: Second Houthi Attack in 48 Hours

The king Khalid International Airport in Saudi Arabia’s capital, Riyadh, was hit by a projectile Sunday, igniting a fire in one of its passenger halls and leaving several people injured.

This marks the second strike on the airport in as many days, following a Saturday attack that killed 13 people and wounded 308. The assaults are blamed on Yemen’s Houthi movement, which says it targets Saudi sites in response to the coalition’s support for the Yemeni government.

A Saudi military spokesman reported that air defences intercepted a missile near the airport earlier, while the civil aviation authority confirmed injuries. The incident has drawn remarks from UK Defence Secretary Wes Streeting and US President Donald Trump, each hinting at possible support or retaliation.

The Houthis have launched a series of ballistic and cruise missile attacks against Saudi facilities, including airports, in the last 24 hours. The Saudi-led coalition has condemned the attacks as war crimes and vowed to respond forcefully.

The latest violence follows the collapse of a ceasefire brokered in 2022 and the escalation of hostilities that began with the Houthis’ seizure of parts of Yemen’s Red Sea coast. Saudi fears include the potential creation of an Iranian satellite state along its southern border.

Flight operations at Riyadh have been disrupted, with airlines and passengers urged to avoid the airport and surrounding airspace.