A Houthi‑launched ballistic missile slammed into the runway of Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport on Tuesday, the group said. The missile, according to Houthi military spokesman Yahya Sarea, hit the strip at 2:13 p.m., damaging three aircraft parked at gates 12 and 13. The blast tore a 30‑meter hole and set a fire that the airport’s fire‑fighting crew managed before it spread to the terminal’s cargo area. No casualties were reported, but the incident halted all arrivals and departures for the next two hours.
Earlier that day, the Saudi‑led coalition intercepted a second missile aimed at the capital, Major General Turki al‑Malki tweeted on X. The missile, launched from Yemen’s western highlands, was intercepted 45 km outside Riyadh by a Patriot system. The interception destroyed the missile before it could reach its target, but a Saudi official speaking on condition of anonymity said the warning system failed to alert air‑defence crews early enough, sparking an internal review.
These attacks are part of a series of Houthi strikes on Saudi airfields that began last week, including a drone hit on Khamis Mushait Air Base that reportedly killed two ground‑crew members. The movement, backed by Iran, has grown from a Zaydi revivalist group into a militant force that can launch long‑range missiles, according to analysts at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. The escalation comes as the US and Israel launch operations against Tehran, prompting Tehran to retaliate through proxy forces.
A family in the Al‑Yamama district, displaced since 2015, says they saw the missile’s plume light up the night sky. "We heard the explosion and the dust fell all over our yard," said 52‑year‑old Fatima Al‑Khatib. "We’re scared the next one will hit us." The incident has added a new layer of terror for civilians living in the shadow of the conflict.
Saudi Arabia’s defense ministry will convene a high‑level council on Thursday to review air‑defence protocols, while the coalition plans a joint exercise with UAE forces to test missile‑interception capabilities. A spokesperson for the Saudi military said the review will include upgrades to radar coverage and training for rapid response teams. The next day, the coalition will also brief the United Nations Security Council on the threat posed by the Houthis to regional stability.