Iran-Backed Houthi Attacks on Riyadh Airport Damaged Three Planes, Officials Say

RIYADH, Oct 10: Attacks on King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh this week damaged three aircraft, according to two regional officials quoted in a report, as missile strikes claimed by Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthi rebels disrupted air traffic in Saudi Arabia.

The officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorised to brief the media, said the damage occurred during attacks on Thursday. Saudi Arabia’s General Authority of Civil Aviation confirmed on Friday that three Saudi nationals were killed and several other people were injured in two attacks targeting the airport. One strike hit airport facilities, while another struck an aircraft belonging to state-owned carrier Saudia. The authority confirmed material damage but did not specify the number of aircraft affected.

The Houthis said they had attacked Riyadh airport with two cruise missiles. The attacks also disrupted flight operations, with numerous flights reportedly diverted, according to flight-tracking platform Flightradar24. Saudi authorities said airport operations had resumed and air traffic had returned to normal following Thursday’s attacks.

The reported damage to three aircraft and the account of a further missile attack on Friday evening could not be independently confirmed from the official Saudi statements reviewed.