Houthi attacks: 3 Saudis killed, plane damaged at Riyadh airport

Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthi rebels escalated their attacks on Saudi Arabia on Thursday, targeting airports and threatening the kingdom’s energy infrastructure as the widening conflict linked to the US-Iran war intensified regional tensions.

Three Saudi nationals were killed and several people wounded in two attacks on Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport, Saudi Arabia’s General Authority of Civil Aviation said on Friday. Saudia Airlines also confirmed that one of its employees died and an aircraft was damaged while parked at the airport.

The airline said no passengers were aboard the aircraft when the incident occurred. Both the airline and civil aviation authorities reported that airport operations and flights had returned to normal.

Aircraft catches fire after Riyadh airport attack

The Houthis claimed to have struck Riyadh airport and warned workers to stay away from energy facilities, which they said would be targeted.

According to three people briefed on the matter, shrapnel from an interception or another projectile hit a Saudia Airlines aircraft while it was parked at an airport terminal on Thursday. The plane caught fire and sustained heavy damage, with video verified by Reuters showing thick black smoke and flames rising from the airport.