Saudi minister vows 'serious response' to Houthi attacks on airports

Houthi missile and drone attacks struck Saudi airports and energy facilities during a sharp escalation in the Yemen conflict. The attacks killed civilians and airport workers, disrupted flights, and raised concerns about the safety of Saudi infrastructure. Riyadh’s airport was attacked repeatedly within one week.

A missile strike hit Terminal 3 at King Khalid International Airport, killing 13 people and forcing the terminal to close. A later projectile hit Terminal 4, killing a Pakistani resident. Earlier strikes killed three Saudis, including a Saudia pilot. King Fahd International Airport in Dammam was also attacked, but no casualties were reported.

Prince Abdul Aziz bin Salman said, “Our response must be equally serious.” Saudi authorities and the coalition reported intercepting missiles and drones. King Khalid airport was expected to remain closed until Saturday, while Qatar Airways and Etihad Airways suspended or cancelled several Saudi flights.

The Houthi movement is a Yemeni armed and political group that controls areas in western Yemen, including the capital, Sanaa, according to the article. It is described as Iran-backed, though Iran has repeatedly denied allegations that it supplies the Houthis with weapons. The movement is fighting Saudi-supported Yemeni pro-government forces.

The Houthis said their airport and infrastructure attacks were retaliation for “brutal Saudi aggression.” Their spokesman cited 124 Saudi air strikes in Yemen during the previous 24 hours. The group also warned airlines and passengers against using Saudi airports and airspace, describing its strategy as “a blockade for a blockade.”

The conflict therefore involves both local Yemeni fighting and regional intervention. Saudi Arabia supports forces opposing the Houthis, while the Houthis attack targets inside Saudi Arabia. The article reports continuing missile, drone, and air strikes, with no immediate sign that the escalation had ended.

The article describes 17 deaths in attacks on Saudi airport facilities. Three Saudis were killed in two strikes the previous Thursday. A missile strike on Riyadh’s Terminal 3 killed 13 people, including Saudis and nationals from Bangladesh, the United States, Egypt, Jordan, Syria, Palestine, Sudan, and India. A Pakistani resident was later killed at Terminal 4.

Two airports were affected: King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh and King Fahd International Airport in Dammam. King Khalid was attacked four times during the week and was expected to close temporarily. Dammam’s airport was attacked, but authorities reported no casualties there. The article also says the Houthis targeted two oil and gas facilities in Eastern Province.

The report does not provide confirmed damage figures for those energy facilities. It records Houthi claims of attacks and Saudi-led coalition reports of intercepted missiles and drones. Thus, the clearest confirmed toll concerns airport strikes, while the energy impact remains less fully described.

The article gives only a brief background: Saudi-led forces provide air support to Yemeni pro-government forces battling the Houthis along Yemen’s Red Sea coast and elsewhere. Established accounts of the conflict add that the Houthis seized Sanaa in 2014 after years of political tension, weakening the internationally recognized government. Yemen then entered a broader civil war.

In March 2015, Saudi Arabia formed a coalition and intervened after President Abdrabbuh Mansur Hadi’s government requested help. The coalition’s stated purpose was to restore the recognized government and push back against Houthi control. The intervention turned Yemen’s internal struggle into a major regional conflict involving Saudi Arabia and Iran-linked Houthi forces.

The fighting remains dangerous for civilians and infrastructure. In the article, the Houthis justify attacks on Saudi targets as retaliation for Saudi air strikes. The Saudi-led coalition continues supporting Yemeni government forces, while missile and drone attacks threaten Saudi airports and energy sites.

Airports are civilian transport hubs, so attacks can kill passengers and workers, close terminals, and interrupt regional travel. Oil and gas facilities are also critical infrastructure. Damage or repeated threats can reduce production, delay exports, raise insurance and security costs, and undermine confidence. The article records deadly airport strikes, but it does not report energy shortages.

King Khalid International Airport’s Terminal 3 was hit by a missile, killing 13 people and forcing closure. A later projectile struck Terminal 4. Dammam’s King Fahd airport was also attacked. Qatar Airways suspended flights to Riyadh and Dammam, while Etihad cancelled flights to Riyadh, Jeddah, and Dammam because of regional disruption.

The immediate effect is reduced mobility and greater danger for civilians. The longer-term risk is pressure on energy security and the economy if facilities are damaged or airlines avoid Saudi airspace. Saudi officials said the attacks tested infrastructure, institutions, people, and national resilience.

Saudi Arabia is the leading regional power in the campaign against the Houthis. Its air-supported coalition backs Yemeni pro-government forces fighting in Yemen. The Houthis are the opposing movement. They launch missiles and drones at Saudi airports and energy facilities, saying they are responding to Saudi air strikes and a siege.

Iran’s role is described more cautiously. The article calls the Houthis Iran-backed, but says Iran repeatedly denies allegations that it supplies them with weapons. The United States is not described as a combatant in the attacks. However, the US military was reportedly providing intelligence and targeting support to the Saudi-led coalition, and President Donald Trump said he would decide whether to join strikes.

The coalition reports intercepting missiles and drones aimed at Saudi cities. The United States could therefore become more directly involved, while Iran’s alleged support remains disputed. The article leaves the conflict’s next political and military steps unresolved.

Energy security is a country’s ability to maintain dependable energy supplies and protect the systems that produce, process, and transport them. It matters because modern economies rely on energy for transport, industry, homes, communications, and public services. Attacks can also weaken public confidence and expose institutional vulnerabilities.

The Houthis said they targeted two oil and gas facilities in Saudi Arabia’s Eastern Province, alongside airports. Saudi officials also reported missile and drone interceptions. Even when defenses prevent destruction, repeated attacks force authorities to spend more on protection and can unsettle airlines, businesses, investors, and energy customers.

At the WPC Energy Congress, Prince Abdul Aziz bin Salman said recent events had tested Saudi infrastructure, institutions, people, and resilience. He warned that energy security cannot be taken for granted. Saudi Arabia’s promised response and continued defenses will shape whether the country can protect facilities and reassure the energy industry.