Second Houthi Strike Hits Riyadh International Airport, Casualties Reported

One person has been killed and 11 injured in a second strike on King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, according to officials. A Saudi military spokesman reported that a projectile hit the airport on Sunday, causing a fire in one of its passenger halls. The Saudi civil aviation authority confirmed that the deceased was a Pakistani resident. This incident follows a previous strike on the same airport that resulted in 13 fatalities and 308 injuries. The Houthi movement in Yemen claimed responsibility for the attacks, warning airlines and passengers against using Saudi Arabian airports and airspace. They stated that the airport was targeted with a combination of ballistic and cruise missiles, as well as drones. The Houthis also claimed to have attacked oil facilities and Dammam airport in eastern Saudi Arabia. Brig Gen Yahya Saree, the group's military spokesman, indicated that they would continue operations deep inside Saudi Arabia, declaring all Saudi airports potential targets except those in Mecca and Medina. The Houthis assert that their actions are in retaliation for Saudi Arabia's support of government forces in Yemen's civil war and an air strike on Sanaa airport. On Sunday, Maj Gen Turki al-Maliki, spokesman for the Saudi-led military coalition, stated that air defenses intercepted a missile near Riyadh airport, while authorities managed the fire caused by the projectile that hit Passenger Hall No 4. US President Donald Trump mentioned that the US would make a decision regarding a response to the Houthis, while UK Defence Secretary Wes Streeting indicated that the UK could potentially offer more support to Saudi Arabia. The attack on Riyadh airport is noted as the deadliest single attack on a Gulf Arab country since the conflict involving Israel, the US, and Iran began in February. The Saudi-led coalition condemned the attack as a 'war crime'. Among the deceased were four Saudi nationals, two individuals from Bangladesh, and one each from the US, Jordan, Palestine, Syria, Sudan, and Egypt. The Indian embassy in Saudi Arabia reported that an Indian man succumbed to injuries from the attack. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio condemned the strikes, confirming that a US citizen was among the casualties. The UK Foreign Office has advised against travel to parts of Saudi Arabia, particularly areas within 10 kilometers of the Yemen border. Houthi-run Al Masirah TV reported that a Saudi air strike targeted Sanaa International Airport, resulting in civilian casualties, including the death of a child. Saudi Arabia has not confirmed this report. Abdullah Al-Alimi Bawazir, vice-president of Yemen's internationally recognized government, called for decisive actions from regional and international partners. The recent strikes follow a series of attacks on Saudi airports, including one on Thursday that killed three Saudi nationals. The uptick in violence comes after a ceasefire between the Houthis and Saudi-led forces, brokered in 2022, collapsed in July. The Houthis currently control about a quarter of Yemeni territory and a significant portion of the population, raising concerns in Saudi Arabia about the establishment of an Iranian-aligned state on its southern border. Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi expressed readiness to assist in facilitating dialogue between Saudi Arabia and Yemen regarding the Houthi administration.