Airport in Saudi capital Riyadh attacked again as flights are halted
Two regional officials said Saturday that the primary aviation hub in Riyadh sustained a fresh strike. Travel came to a sudden halt following the incident. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak to the media.
One official said personnel evacuated the site. Another official said all air traffic stopped completely. Planes were grounded immediately.
The strike occurred two days following an earlier incident at the same location. Three Saudi citizens died in that previous event. One victim was a pilot.
King Khalid International Airport has faced repeated strikes during the past week. A Saudi-led coalition recently launched a major military offensive in neighboring Yemen against Iran-backed Houthi rebels.
The Houthis claimed responsibility for earlier strikes at the facility. A separate strike on Wednesday killed a Sudanese national. That incident also wounded eight other people.
The group did not issue an immediate statement on Saturday. Ahmed Sayed, a Riyadh resident, said he heard at least two loud explosions. The blasts shook the area.
Airport operators released a brief public advisory. The message instructed departing passengers to verify flight schedules directly with their airlines before traveling to terminal buildings.
King Khalid International Airport serves commercial air travel for the national capital. The facility handles civilian passengers alongside cargo transport routes across Saudi Arabia.
Combat continues between Houthi forces and the Saudi-backed Yemeni government. Coalition aircraft provide support to government units seeking to reverse recent Houthi gains along the Red Sea.
