One Killed in Second Houthi Strike on Riyadh Airport in Two Days

According to BBC News World, a second strike on Riyadh's King Khalid International Airport in two days has left one person dead and 11 others injured, according to officials. The Saudi civil aviation authority reported that a Pakistani resident was among the victims of Sunday's attack, which caused a fire in a passenger hall.

According to the BBC, the incident follows a significantly deadlier strike on the same facility just one day prior, which resulted in 13 deaths and 308 injuries. Casualties from that attack included four Saudi nationals, two Bangladeshi citizens, and one person each from the United States, Jordan, Palestine, Syria, Sudan, and Egypt. The Indian embassy in Saudi Arabia also confirmed the death of an Indian national following injuries sustained during the weekend violence.

The Houthis, an Iran-backed group based in Yemen, claimed responsibility for the weekend assaults. Their military spokesman, Brig Gen Yahya Saree, stated the airport was targeted using a combination of drones, ballistic missiles, and cruise missiles. The group has warned passengers and airlines to avoid Saudi airports and airspace, declaring that all such facilities are potential targets with the exception of those in Mecca and Medina.

International responses have been swift. U.S. President Donald Trump stated the United States would "move very quickly" to decide on a potential response, while U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirmed a U.S. citizen was among the dead and condemned the strikes. UK Defence Secretary Wes Streeting suggested the UK could provide further support to Saudi Arabia, and Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband described the situation as "appalling." The UK Foreign Office has since updated its travel guidance for the region.

The recent surge in violence marks a sharp escalation since the collapse of a 2022 ceasefire in July. The Houthis, who control approximately 25% of Yemeni territory, claim their operations are in response to Saudi support for government forces in the ongoing civil war and alleged Saudi airstrikes on Sanaa. Meanwhile, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has expressed willingness to assist in facilitating dialogue between Saudi Arabia and the Houthi administration.