A bolt of missile‑laden projectile slammed into Terminal 3 of King Khalid International Airport, setting the jet‑bridge area ablaze and forcing emergency crews to rush in flames—before air‑defence batteries intercepted a second missile in the periphery.
The attack follows a Saturday strike that, according to Yemeni sources, killed at least 12 and left more than 300 injured, making it the deadliest on Saudi soil in over a decade.
United Nations Secretary‑General Antonio Guterres condemned the assault as a blatant violation of international law, while U.S. President Joe Biden signaled potential support for Saudi strikes against the Houthis.
Flights through Riyadh’s airports have been grounded until 2100 GMT, with 140 domestic and 70 international departures delayed; radar and communication towers show extensive damage, and the civil aviation authority is underway with a full damage audit.
In the Al‑Aarid neighbourhood, a 32‑year‑old resident recalled the sky cracking, birds scattering, and the ground trembling as emergency sirens wailed—an image that now haunts a community already scarred by regional turmoil.
Saudi Arabia’s coalition forces have pledged a “decisive” response, and Houthi media warn that Riyadh’s transit hubs will remain a theatre of operations for their forces.