Yemeni rebels attack Saudi airport multiple times

The military coalition led by Saudi Arabia reported that Houthi rebels in Yemen launched 20 attacks on King-Khaled International Airport in Riyadh between October 1 and October 11, resulting in 17 dead and 333 injured. The attacks used a variety of weapons, including drones and missiles, and were described as a significant escalation in the ongoing conflict.

Attack details and casualties

According to Major General Turki al-Maliki, the coalition's spokesperson, the attacks on October 7 caused one dead and eight injured, while the following day saw three dead and five injured. On October 10, the most severe attack resulted in twelve dead and 309 injured, and a final attack on October 11 caused one dead and eleven injured.

Other airport targets and casualties

The spokesperson also reported several attacks targeting other airport infrastructure in Saudi Arabia. On October 7, an attack on Abha International Airport killed two Moroccan and Algerian citizens and injured 28 people. Another attack on October 5 at King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz International Airport in Jazan injured three people, while attacks on Najran and Dammam airports reportedly caused no casualties.

Coalition responds with military actions

Turki al-Maliki stated that coalition forces had destroyed ballistic missile storage sites in the mountains surrounding Sanaa, the Yemeni capital controlled by the Houthi rebels. The coalition also destroyed 127 warehouses and several launch platforms, indicating efforts to disrupt the rebels' military capabilities.

Context of the conflict

The spokesperson reminded that the Riyadh airport is a civilian infrastructure protected by international humanitarian law. The conflict involves Houthi rebels, who the Saudi-led coalition claims are supported by Iran, and Yemeni authorities backed by the coalition. This ongoing struggle has led to multiple attacks on civilian and military targets across the region.