Multiple explosions were heard across the Saudi capital Riyadh on Thursday morning. Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree claimed: "Our armed forces targeted King Khalid Airport in Riyadh at midday with a ballistic missile that hit its target."
Coalition spokesman Col. Turki al-Maliki said forces intercepted and destroyed two Houthi ballistic missiles aimed at Riyadh and one at Khamis Mushait, and destroyed a platform in Sanaa that had been used to launch the attacks.
Flights suspended
Saudi civil defense reported "material damage" to buildings from falling shrapnel. King Khalid International Airport suspended operations and told passengers to contact their airlines directly and check their flight status before heading to the airport.
Saree told employees at all Saudi oil facilities to leave areas the group considers targets and issued what he called a final warning to international airlines operating in Saudi airspace.
Escalating attacks
The attack follows strikes on Abha International Airport on Tuesday, which killed a Moroccan and an Algerian, and on King Khalid Airport on Wednesday, which killed a Sudanese resident. Tensions have risen since Yemeni government forces, backed by Saudi Arabia, launched a major offensive to retake Houthi-held areas on the Red Sea coast.
Images of a damaged aircraft, no official confirmation
Footage and images circulating online showed thick black smoke rising over King Khalid International Airport and firefighters tackling a burning aircraft bearing Saudia livery near the terminal. Some reports said the aircraft was empty and parked at a gate when it was hit, but Saudi authorities have not confirmed that any aircraft was struck.
Saudi Arabia’s General Authority of Civil Aviation said it was working with the relevant authorities to assess damage and verify the safety of facilities. Several international airlines, including carriers in the Lufthansa Group, suspended or reduced flights to Riyadh. The Saudi-led coalition said it had destroyed 82 Houthi military sites in Saada, Hodeidah, Jawf and Marib, vowing the attacks “will not go unpunished.”
