Houthis launch drone strikes near Riyadh airport, claim responsibility

Yemen’s Iran‑backed Houthi movement said on Sunday it launched missile and drone strikes against “sensitive” targets in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia’s capital, after eyewitnesses reported thick smoke and flames near King Khalid International Airport. The group posted a video on its Telegram channel showing a drone flying over the city and claimed the attack hit a military‑air‑defence site. Saudi authorities confirmed a temporary “security alert” at the airport but said no casualties were reported.

The claim comes amid a sharp escalation in the three‑year‑old war between the Saudi‑led coalition and the Houthis, who have stepped up cross‑border strikes since early 2024. The conflict intensified after the war in Gaza erupted, prompting the Houthis to align more closely with Iran and to target Saudi infrastructure in retaliation for Riyadh’s support of Israel. In recent weeks the group has used longer‑range drones and missiles, hitting oil facilities, power plants and now, according to its own statements, a strategic site in the capital.

Saudi Arabia’s defense ministry released a brief statement saying its air‑defence systems intercepted “unidentified aerial objects” and that the airport’s operations were returning to normal. The ministry warned that any attack on Saudi soil would be met with a “decisive response.” The United States, which maintains a military presence in the kingdom, said it was monitoring the situation and that its forces stood ready to assist Saudi partners if needed. Analysts note that the incident could prompt Riyadh to tighten security around key sites and to increase air‑defence patrols over the capital.

If the Houthis’ claim proves accurate, the strike marks the first time they have publicly targeted a high‑profile site inside Riyadh. That could raise the stakes of the conflict and push Saudi Arabia to consider a broader retaliation, possibly extending air strikes deeper into Houthi‑controlled Yemen. The episode also threatens to disrupt air traffic in a region that handles a large share of global oil shipments, heightening concerns among investors and prompting calls for diplomatic de‑escalation. The next few days will reveal whether Riyadh escalates its response or seeks a mediated pause to prevent further escalation.