Riyadh Airport Struck Again by Second Houthi Attack in Two Days
Riyadh Airport Struck Again by Second Houthi Attack in Two Days
- Development: Riyadh Airport Struck Again by Second Houthi Attack in Two Days
- Core Takeaway: Riyadh Airport Struck Again by Second Houthi Attack in Two Days
- Context: Primary reporting aggregated across independent newsrooms and verified against CurrentDeck standards.
Second Projectile Hits King Khalid International Airport
A Saudi military spokesperson confirmed that an “unknown projectile” struck Passenger Hall 4 of King Khalid International Airport on Sunday, igniting a fire and causing injuries. The Saudi civil‑aviation authority said the terminal – which serves domestic flights in Terminals 3 and 4 – was already closed after a missile strike the previous day.
Brig. Gen. Yahya Saree, the Houthi military spokesperson, urged “everyone to take our warnings seriously” and reiterated that Saudi airports, except for those in Mecca and Medina, remain viable targets.
Casualty Figures Vary Across Reports
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Saturday missile strike – deaths (Examiner) | 12 killed |
| Saturday missile strike – deaths (BBC/Yahoo) | 13 killed |
| Saturday missile strike – injuries (BBC) | 308 injured |
| Saturday missile strike – injuries (Examiner) | around 300 wounded, some critically |
| Sunday projectile strike – injuries | injuries reported; exact number not disclosed |
| Nationalities among dead (BBC) | Four Saudi, two Bangladeshi, one each from the US, Jordan, Palestine, Syria, Sudan and Egypt |
The discrepancy between the 12‑ and 13‑person death toll stems from the Indian embassy’s later confirmation that an Indian citizen died of injuries sustained in Saturday’s attack, raising the count to 13 according to some outlets.
Regional Leaders Respond to Escalation
Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman Al Saud, Saudi Arabia’s energy minister, addressed an energy conference in Riyadh, saying,
He added that the kingdom continues work on new pipelines despite the attacks."There is no way that somebody will break our back. We are like a phoenix, we come out of the ashes all the time."
Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman Al Saud, energy minister, conference remarks
Maj Gen Turki al‑Maliki, spokesman for the Saudi‑led coalition, said air‑defences intercepted a missile near the airport on Sunday but could not prevent the projectile impact.
Iranian official Mohsen Rezaei, a senior member of the Supreme National Security Council, called the United States’ latest response to a proposed cease‑fire “insufficient” and warned that intensified fighting could trigger attacks on regional data centres and cables.
International Reactions and Military Posture
U.S. President Donald Trump said the United States would “make a decision” and move quickly on whether to strike the Houthis. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio condemned the attacks and confirmed that a U.S. Citizen was among those killed.
UK Defence Secretary Wes Streeting suggested Britain could “potentially” increase support for Saudi Arabia, and the UK Foreign Office advised against travel within 10 km of the Yemen border.
Embassies in Riyadh – including those of India and the United States – issued alerts and confirmed casualties among their nationals.
Saudi authorities have repeatedly asked allies such as France, Britain, Pakistan and Egypt to provide additional air‑defence assets, noting that their own interceptor stockpiles are low.
Houthi Threats Extend Beyond Riyadh
Brig. Gen. Yahya Saree also announced strikes on Dammam airport in eastern Saudi Arabia and on oil and gas facilities, warning “all airlines, experts, employees, workers and travellers” to avoid Saudi airports and airspace, which he described as “vulnerable to attack.”
The Houthis said they had also targeted the airport in Sanaa, Yemen, and accused Saudi forces of an airstrike on a house in Sanaa that killed a child.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the confirmed death toll from the two attacks on Riyadh’s airport?
Reports differ: the Examiner cites 12 deaths from the Saturday missile strike, while the BBC and Yahoo report 13 deaths, including an Indian citizen who later died from injuries.
Who has claimed responsibility for the attacks?
The Iran‑backed Houthi rebels, through their military spokesperson Brig. Gen. Yahya Saree, have claimed responsibility for both the Saturday missile strike and the Sunday projectile impact.
What are the next steps for Saudi Arabia’s air‑defence strategy?
Saudi officials have asked allied nations to deploy additional air‑defence systems, noting that their own interceptor reserves are low. The coalition continues to intercept missiles while evaluating further regional support.
President Trump said he was weighing whether the United States would join Saudi strikes against the Houthis, a decision that could shape the next phase of the regional escalation.
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