Saudi capital airport hit by second strike in two days

What the report says

Saudi officials said King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh was hit by a second strike in two days, with a projectile causing a fire in one passenger hall on Sunday. The Saudi civil aviation authority said there were injuries, while the Saudi-led coalition said air defences intercepted a missile near the airport and firefighters were dealing with damage from an unknown projectile.

The BBC reported that Saturday’s attack on the same airport killed 13 people and injured 308, and that earlier strikes this week also targeted Saudi airports. Yemen’s Houthi movement said it was responsible for the latest attacks, saying it had used ballistic and cruise missiles as well as drones over the previous 24 hours. The group also said it struck oil facilities and Dammam airport in eastern Saudi Arabia.

The escalation comes against the backdrop of the Yemen war, in which the Houthis control large parts of the country and have fought the Saudi-led coalition for years. The BBC said the group says it is targeting Saudi Arabia over its support for government forces in Yemen. The renewed attacks have raised concern for airlines, passengers and regional security, with the Houthis warning that Saudi airports could remain targets apart from those in Mecca and Medina.