New Houthi attacks on Riyadh International Airport on Sunday claimed one life and injured 11 others. These attacks occurred after another deadly assault, recognized as the deadliest attack on Saudi soil in over a decade.
Escalation of Conflicts in Yemen
The Houthi organization announced on Sunday that they had conducted several attacks in the past 24 hours, including the attack on Riyadh Airport. The group also threatened to continue their attacks on Saudi transit centers, referring to them as "the operational theater of their forces." The attack on Saturday, recognized as the deadliest in recent history, has significantly heightened tensions in the Yemen war.
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Following this attack, the Saudi-led coalition announced that a missile struck King Khalid International Airport, causing a fire. Additionally, Saudi air defense systems intercepted another missile near the airport.
Humanitarian and Security Consequences
This new attack on Riyadh Airport claimed the life of a Pakistani citizen and injured 11 others. Saudi civilian aviation authorities announced that airport activities would be suspended for another 24 hours until 21:00 GMT due to these attacks. Eyewitnesses in the Saudi capital reported hearing several explosions, with some describing that "birds became extremely agitated upon hearing the sound, and the house shook."
Moreover, Houthi attacks on Dammam Airport have also been reported. The Saudi coalition also reported intercepting a drone in eastern Saudi Arabia. On Monday morning, the coalition announced that a Houthi ballistic missile aimed at the city of Khamis Mushait, which hosts a large military base, was intercepted and destroyed.
Iran's Foreign Minister, Abbas Araghchi, emphasized in a call with his Saudi counterpart that "insisting on a military approach and ignoring political solutions will complicate the current situation." He also stated that Tehran is ready to "initiate dialogues between Saudi Arabia and Yemen and assist in achieving a political solution."
The Houthis have recently intensified their attacks on Riyadh Airport and Saudi oil facilities. Despite Saudi Arabia investing billions of dollars in its military system, Houthi attacks continue to hit their targets with ease. Security analysts believe that "Saudi air defenses have managed to intercept some of the Houthi missile and drone attacks, but the vastness of the country makes effective permanent defense impossible."
The anti-Houthi coalition described Saturday's attack as a "complete war crime" and promised to "respond decisively." Meanwhile, Houthi media reported two Saudi attacks on Houthi-controlled areas in Sana'a province on Sunday, resulting in the death of one civilian and injuries to five others.
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