In an attack on King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, the capital of Saudi Arabia, several people were injured and as a result, operations at the airport were suspended. This incident occurred on Saturday and according to officials, flights were halted due to the severity of the attack.
Details of the Attack and Its Consequences
No group has claimed responsibility for this attack so far, but this event occurs amid an increase in missile attacks by the Houthi group from Yemen on Saudi Arabia. This airport had previously been targeted in two other attacks earlier this week, resulting in the deaths of four people and revealing weaknesses in Saudi Arabia's defense system.
The Saudi early warning system had not issued any alerts prior to this incident. One eyewitness at the airport reported hearing an explosion and then seeing several injured people on the ground. Additionally, more than a dozen ambulances were dispatched to the airport.
International Reactions and Flight Status
The U.S. Embassy in Riyadh stated that it is aware of the attacks and advises American citizens to avoid the airport and surrounding areas. The embassies of the UK and Ireland have also been informed of a "serious incident" at the airport and have reacted accordingly. The Canadian Embassy also announced that "ongoing military activities" have affected airport operations.
Flight tracking websites showed that all flights to Riyadh had either been diverted or canceled, with only one helicopter observed flying over the airport. Kuwait Airways announced that it has canceled its flights to and from the Saudi capital due to the "security situation." Additionally, Etihad and Qatar Airways also canceled multiple flights to Riyadh.
The Houthi attacks on Thursday and earlier last week led several airlines to suspend or cancel their services to the Saudi capital, while Riyadh is soon to host important energy and investment conferences. However, the organizers of these conferences stated that the events will proceed as planned and assured participants about their safety.
The Houthis have declared that aircraft should avoid Saudi airspace and have designated the area as a military operation zone, as the Yemeni government supported by Saudi Arabia launched an attack against this group earlier this month.
