Saudi officials evacuated Riyadh Airport after a Houthi attack on Saturday, halting all air traffic. The strike, which falls within a series of assaults on the capital’s key aviation hub, left a pilot among the three Saudi citizens killed in the March 27 incident.
The airport, officially King Khalid International, has suffered three separate attacks since the coalition’s offensive against Yemen’s Houthi rebels began on March 18. Each strike has targeted runways and tarmac, forcing temporary closures and prompting emergency evacuations.
A spokesperson for the Saudi Ministry of Interior said the Houthis claimed responsibility for the March 27 attack, but no statement followed Saturday’s explosion. The rebels have positioned themselves to intercept Saudi shipping along the Red Sea, intensifying concerns about security for the kingdom’s trade routes.
Ahmed Sayed, a Riyadh resident, reported hearing two loud explosions that rattled the city. In the aftermath, the airport issued a terse alert urging passengers to verify flight status with airlines before arriving, while authorities warned that sharing footage of missile impacts could expose individuals to legal liability.
Saudi officials are investigating the latest attack and coordinating with U.S. and allied forces for additional security measures. Flight operations are expected to resume once a comprehensive safety assessment concludes, though no exact timetable has yet been released.