Three killed, dozens injured in attacks on Riyadh and Abha airports
GACA reports three dead and dozens injured after strikes on airports in Riyadh and Abha; responsibility and launch origin remain unconfirmed.
Three people were killed and dozens injured after attacks struck two airports in Saudi Arabia, the Saudi General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) said. The incidents hit facilities in Riyadh and Abha over a two‑day period.
GACA said the assault on Abha airport in the Asir province, in the country’s southwest, left two women dead — holders of Algerian and Moroccan citizenship — and 28 people injured, including Saudi nationals. In the attack on the airport in Riyadh a Sudanese national was killed and eight people were wounded. Both airports suffered material damage.
Claims and context
Saudi authorities have not publicly identified who carried out the strikes or from where they were launched. Houthi rebels, who are backed by Iran, have in the past claimed responsibility for attacks on airports in Saudi Arabia and had earlier said they fired two ballistic missiles at Abha International Airport as part of intensified operations.
The strikes come amid a wider escalation of the war in Yemen between government forces and the Houthi movement. Saudi Arabia supports the internationally recognised government in Yemen and has conducted air strikes against the rebels.
Yemeni authorities have said their forces launched an offensive aimed at retaking territory held by the Houthis. The situation has raised concerns about further cross‑border attacks and risks to civilian aviation in the region.
Photo: Printskrin
