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The Saudi General Authority of Civil Aviation reported three deaths and 36 injuries from strikes on Abha International Airport and King Khalid International Airport in the capital on October 6 and 7. Two female residents, one Moroccan and one Algerian, died at Abha with 28 others wounded, including Saudi citizens as well as Bangladeshi and Filipino nationals. A Sudanese resident lost his life at King Khalid International Airport where eight more people sustained injuries, among them five Saudi citizens, two Egyptians and one Pakistani, the authority’s statement detailed. Emergency response teams activated established protocols immediately after both incidents, according to the authority, which continues to evaluate damage while implementing additional protective steps for passengers and staff.
Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree claimed responsibility for the airport strikes in statements carried by the group’s media outlets, describing a ballistic missile launch against King Khalid International Airport that the group said disrupted operations in Riyadh. The Iran-aligned fighters also asserted they targeted the King Khalid Air Base in Khamis Mushait with drones and missiles as part of a series of operations. Saudi military spokesperson Maj. Gen. Turki al-Maliki stated that coalition forces destroyed the ballistic missile launcher used in the Riyadh attack, Reuters reported. These claims surfaced as Houthi forces pressed advances against Saudi-backed Yemeni government troops in areas near the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, a vital shipping corridor, according to a Reuters dispatch from October 7.
The Saudi-led coalition fighting the Houthis issued a statement late on Wednesday vowing that the airport attacks would not go unpunished and announcing strikes on more than 80 Houthi military sites across Saada, Hodeidah, Jawf and Marib governorates. Coalition operations have intensified in recent days as battles focus on territory astride key maritime routes that have gained importance since restrictions affected the Strait of Hormuz, a Reuters assessment found. The coalition has supported Yemen’s internationally recognised government since 2015 in the conflict with the Houthis, who control large parts of the country including the capital Sanaa. Earlier this week the Houthis also launched ballistic missiles and explosive-laden drones at Aden’s international airport, forcing a Cairo-bound flight to divert, according to Yemen’s Transport Ministry.
Gulf Cooperation Council Secretary-General Jassim al-Budaiwi described the strikes on airports and civilian facilities as a dangerous escalation and called on the international community to adopt a firm stance against such actions. Kuwait’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned what it termed the Houthis’ continued brazen attacks on Saudi civilians and economic sites in a separate statement. The incidents prompted a security alert from the US Mission in Saudi Arabia warning citizens of potential further drone and missile threats amid risks of broader escalation, CNN reported on October 7. Similar Houthi strikes in September targeted facilities near Riyadh, including one that produced a visible plume of smoke from a fuel storage area at King Khalid International Airport, Al Jazeera noted in its coverage.
Yemen’s Presidential Leadership Council chairman Rashad Al-Alimi declared the launch of military operations named Dawn of Yemen last week to restore government authority nationwide. The current flare-up comes against a backdrop in which the Houthis have seized territory along strategic waterways, complicating regional energy exports and supply chains. Saudi Arabia, the world’s top oil exporter, has seen both military and oil assets come under fire in recent days, posing risks to alternative shipping paths, a Globe and Mail report from October 7 indicated. Officials have erected additional fencing around fuel tanks and equipment at facilities near Riyadh’s airport in response to the repeated threats.
The General Authority of Civil Aviation has not attributed the airport attacks to any specific party in its formal statements but has emphasised ongoing assessments and commitment to safety protocols. Casualty figures released by the authority align with details provided in statements from the Saudi-led coalition and reporting by multiple regional outlets. Injuries ranged from minor to severe across both sites, with all wounded transferred to medical facilities for treatment. The authority indicated that specialised teams responded without delay to minimise further disruption at the affected airports.
