Three civilians have been killed and 36 injured in attacks claimed by the Houthi movement on two airports in Saudi Arabia, according to a statement from the Saudi General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA). The attacks occurred at Abha International Airport and King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh on Tuesday and Wednesday.
The attack on Abha International Airport resulted in the deaths of two female residents, a Moroccan and an Algerian, and injured 28 others, as reported by GACA. The attack on King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh killed a Sudanese citizen and injured eight residents, including five Saudi citizens.
GACA stated that it is coordinating with relevant security authorities to assess the damage and ensure the safety of passengers and workers. Major-General Turki al-Maliki, spokesperson for the Saudi-led coalition, reported that forces intercepted a ballistic missile north of Riyadh and destroyed a launch platform in Yemen's capital, Sanaa, used for attacks on Saudi Arabia.
In response to the attacks, new security measures have been implemented, including the installation of cage-like fences around fuel tanks and equipment of the Saudi state-run Aramco oil company near Riyadh airport.
On September 18, Saudi-led coalition forces intercepted and destroyed a suspected Houthi ballistic missile aimed at the Riyadh airport. The following day, explosions were reported near the airport, with black smoke observed rising from a fuel storage area at King Khalid International Airport.
Saudi-backed Yemeni forces are engaged in ongoing combat with Iran-aligned Houthi forces, who control significant territory near the Bab al-Mandeb Strait. Yemen's internationally recognized government reported that the Houthis launched ballistic missiles and drones at Aden airport on Wednesday, but no casualties were reported.
Additionally, the United States embassy in Riyadh has issued a security alert for Americans in Saudi Arabia, urging citizens to exercise heightened vigilance due to the current security situation.