Houthi-Saudi Escalation: Riyadh Airport Hit AgainWorld

The strike came a day after a far deadlier assault on the Riyadh airport that killed at least 13 people and wounded more than 300, according to Saudi authorities. Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree claimed responsibility for the Oct 10 attack in a televised address on Oct 11.

Saudi officials said the victims of the Oct 10 attack included four Saudis, two Bangladeshis and nationals of the United States, Jordan, Palestine, Syria, Sudan and Egypt. India’s embassy in Riyadh said on Oct 11 that one of its citizens injured in the attack had died, raising the death toll from 12 to 13.

The Houthis also claimed strikes on the Dammam airport and two facilities belonging to Saudi oil giant Aramco, and renewed warnings to airlines against using Saudi airports. “We urge everyone to take our warnings seriously, and Saudi Arabia bears responsibility for any failed interceptions,” the group said.

The Riyadh airport has been closed since the Oct 10 attack. Saudi authorities said all schools in Riyadh would shift to remote learning from Sunday through Thursday, suspending in-person classes for students, teachers and administrative staff.

<h2>Saudi strikes on Yemen</h2> The Houthis said Saudi Arabia had carried out 124 airstrikes in Yemen in the past 24 hours, including on the capital Sanaa and the group&#8217;s stronghold Saada. The Houthi foreign ministry, in statements carried by Houthi-run Al Masirah television, warned of further escalation: &#8220;Unless the Saudi enemy stops its aggression and interference in Yemen, worse is yet to come, God willing.&#8221;

Saudi Arabia stepped up its military involvement in Yemen in recent weeks, launching strikes against the Houthis and backing a Yemeni government-in-exile counteroffensive after the group seized strategic territory along the Red Sea coast last month.

US President Donald Trump said on Oct 10 that the United States was considering joining Saudi strikes against the Houthis — a move that could widen the war on Iran that the US and Israel launched in February.

Despite the attacks, a long-planned five-day international energy conference, WPC Energy, opened in Riyadh on Oct 11 as scheduled at a convention center about six miles from the airport. Italy&#8217;s energy minister, Gilberto Pichetto Fratin, said on Oct 9 he would participate remotely via video link. German officials said Economy Minister Katherina Reiche, who was in Riyadh for the conference, might be unable to fly back to Berlin on Oct 12 as planned because of the airport closure.