Riyadh Airport Targeted Again: One Dead, 11 Injured Amid Escalating Houthi Attacks

Riyadh: Concern has increased regarding the security of airports in Saudi Arabia. On Sunday, Terminal 4 of Riyadh's King Khalid International Airport was once again attacked, in which one person was killed and 11 others were injured. According to Saudi officials, an incident of fire also occurred during the attack. A day before this, there was news of the death of 13 people and injuries of more than 300 people in the attack on Riyadh Airport. Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi rebels claimed responsibility for Saturday's attack. Saudi Arabia has increased its air security amid continuous attacks.

How did the second attack on Riyadh airport happen?

According to the Saudi-led coalition, an unidentified projectile targeted Terminal 4 of Riyadh's King Khalid International Airport on Sunday. After this incident a fire broke out there. However, available information has not officially confirmed the weapon used in Sunday's attack and the party behind the attack.

Meanwhile, Saudi Air Defense also intercepted a cruise missile near the airport. Information about destroying a drone in the eastern province of the country and intercepting a ballistic missile fired towards Khamis Mushait has also come to light.

How many people died in the airport attacks in Saudi Arabia?

The death toll from attacks targeting airports over the course of a week has risen to 18, according to Saudi officials. 13 people were killed in the attack on Riyadh airport on Saturday. These included four Saudi citizens, while the other deceased were foreign nationals.

Indian citizen Mohammad Yusuf also died in this attack. He was 46 years old. This incident has raised questions about the safety of foreign citizens living in Saudi Arabia and people traveling there.

What did Houthi rebels claim regarding Riyadh and Dammam airports?

Houthi military spokesman Yahya Sarri claimed responsibility for Saturday's attack in a televised address on Sunday. They also claimed to have targeted King Fahd International Airport in Dammam, Saudi Arabia, and two facilities of Saudi oil company Aramco.

The Saudi Civil Aviation Authority confirmed the attack at Dammam airport late Sunday night. According to officials, damage assessment and safety checks were being conducted. An eyewitness said a projectile fell on the runway area near several parked aircraft at around 8:30 pm local time, causing a fire. After this the plane was brought back to the gate and the passengers were asked to disembark and go to a safe area.

What was the impact on flights and security arrangements after the attacks?

After the attack on Dammam airport, there was news of impact on flight operations. According to flight tracking website Flightradar24, delays and cancellations were seen on many flights arriving and departing from the airport.

The UK Embassy advised its citizens to avoid non-essential travel to Saudi Arabia's airports except Jeddah, Dammam and Medina. US aviation officials also asked US airlines to use caution when flying to or over Saudi Arabia.

The Saudi Civil Defense Department issued emergency alerts in Abha early Monday. Officials later said the danger had passed.

What steps were taken in Saudi Arabia after the warning of Houthis?

Saudi authorities announced that schools in Riyadh will move to online classes from Sunday to Thursday amid continued attacks and security concerns. This decision has been taken as a precautionary measure.

On the other hand, Saudi Arabia has intensified its military activities against Houthi rebels in Yemen. The Houthi side claimed that Saudi Arabia carried out 124 airstrikes in Yemen in the last 24 hours. The Houthi Foreign Ministry warned that if Saudi Arabia did not end its military operations, the situation could worsen. However, this number of airstrikes is a claim by the Houthi side, which is not independently confirmed by available information.

US President Donald Trump also said on Saturday that Washington was considering joining Saudi attacks against the Houthis. At the same time, Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said that in talks with his Saudi counterpart, he has offered help in promoting dialogue between Saudi Arabia and Yemen.

There is a possibility of increasing regional tension due to continuous attacks. In the coming days, everyone will be keeping an eye on Saudi Arabia's security arrangements, air traffic and military action in Yemen.