Houthis claim missile strike on Riyadh airport, flights disrupted

Yemen’s Houthis on Thursday claimed a fresh ballistic missile strike on King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, saying it disrupted airport operations, as departures from the Saudi capital’s airport were halted following the reported attack.

Houthi military spokesman Brig-Gen Yahya Saree said the missile “hit its target accurately” and caused disruption to airport operations. He did not provide details of any damage or casualties.

Flight-tracking data showed the last recorded departure from King Khalid International Airport was at 5.55am, with several subsequent flights listed as delayed or estimated. A Turkish Airlines flight to Istanbul was marked cancelled.

Saree also issued what he called a “final” warning to international airlines to stop operating flights in Saudi airspace, saying it had become a “theatre for our military operations”.

The latest claim came a day after Saudi authorities said Houthi attacks on King Khalid and Abha airports on Tuesday and Wednesday had killed three people and wounded 36.

The Houthis also claimed on Thursday that ballistic missile strikes had killed and wounded dozens of Saudi-backed forces in areas near Yemen’s strategic Bab El Mandeb strait.

Saree said the strikes targeted Qawa camp in Ras Al Arah on Yemen’s Red Sea coast, as well as troop concentrations south of Bab El Mandeb and in Al Saqiya.

He claimed the missiles scored direct hits, killing and wounding many people and setting fire to several weapons stores.

The claims could not immediately be independently verified.