Airlines have suspended flights to Riyadh airport after the Iran-aligned Houthi movement claimed responsibility for a ballistic missile strike on the Saudi capital. The group stated the attack caused significant damage to an aircraft, though it provided no immediate evidence to support the assertion.
Saudi authorities did not immediately comment on the specific Houthi claim. However, officials confirmed earlier this week that three people were killed in separate strikes targeting Riyadh airport and Abha airport in the southwest. These incidents mark a sharp escalation in the group’s campaign against the kingdom.
Damage and Cancellations at King Khalid International
Witnesses reported hearing explosions at King Khalid International airport, with one describing a large blast followed by the deployment of fire and ambulance crews. Video footage verified by Reuters showed thick black smoke and flames rising from the facility.
Three individuals briefed on the matter told Reuters that shrapnel from an intercepted projectile or another object heavily damaged a Saudia Airlines commercial plane. The aircraft caught fire while parked at a terminal on Thursday. Officials noted that no passengers were believed to be on board at the time, though they could not rule out injuries to ground staff.
The disruption to air travel was immediate. Lufthansa and Air India confirmed they were suspending flights to the capital. Data from aviation analytics firm Cirium indicated that nearly half of all departures from the airport were cancelled by 1500 GMT on Thursday. An additional 31 cancellations were expected across all Saudi airports on Friday.
Regional Escalation and Energy Threats
The Houthi movement has intensified its operations against Saudi infrastructure, attempting to shut down the kingdom’s airspace. The group warned workers to stay away from energy plants, stating these facilities would be targeted in retaliation for Saudi support of government forces in Yemen.
Saudi Arabia backs the UN-recognized Yemeni government in its ongoing civil war. In response, the Houthis have made rapid advances across the country’s coastal plain. Independent observers noted the group was approaching the major city of Taiz, with some forces linked to the Saudi-backed government pulling back to secure the port city of Aden.
Separately, Saudi officials reported that debris from an intercepted missile struck a kindergarten and a medical complex in Riyadh. The attacks coincide with a period of heightened tension, as Riyadh was scheduled to host the WPC Energy Congress, a major meeting of global energy policymakers, this week.
Source: The Guardian
