On Wednesday, Saudi authorities confirmed that three people lost their lives when the Yemen‑based Houthi movement struck two international airports – Abha International Airport and Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport – in separate attacks. The incidents, which occurred on Tuesday and Wednesday, also left 36 individuals wounded and disrupted air traffic in the capital.
**Who carried out the attacks?**
The Iran‑backed [Houthis](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Houthi_movement) claimed responsibility for both strikes, saying they accurately hit the facilities and warned airlines to avoid Saudi airspace for the "last time".
**What were the casualties?**
Saudi Arabia’s civil aviation authority reported that an Egyptian and an Algerian national died at Abha Airport, while a Sudanese citizen was killed at Riyadh’s airport. In total, 36 people were injured across the two sites.
**How did the Saudi‑led coalition respond?**
The coalition, which backs Yemen’s internationally recognised government, directly blamed the Houthi fighters and announced a retaliatory campaign. It said it struck 82 "legitimate military targets" including missile launch sites, command centres, communications systems and Houthi gathering points.
**What is the broader context?**
Since the renewal of Yemen’s civil war in July, the United Nations estimates that over 200,000 people have been displaced within the country. The Houthis have intensified attacks on Saudi civilian infrastructure, while the Saudi‑backed forces have launched a major counter‑offensive aimed at reclaiming strategic Red Sea areas and the port city of Mocha.
**What did the Houthis say about the Riyadh strike?**
Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree described the Riyadh airport attack as "accurate" and said it caused a disruption of air traffic. He also claimed the group hit a military supply convoy near the airport in Aden, Yemen’s interim capital.
**What happened to civilian flights?**
According to Yemen’s Saba news agency, a missile landed near a runway minutes before a scheduled flight from Cairo arrived, forcing the aircraft to divert to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
**What is the humanitarian impact?**
The ongoing conflict has created a severe humanitarian crisis, with most of Yemen’s population dependent on aid. Residents in conflict zones, such as Taiz, reported civilian casualties from Houthi shelling, and charity workers described widespread terror among the populace.
The situation remains fluid, with both sides claiming victories that are difficult to verify independently due to limited journalist access and the fast‑moving nature of the conflict.