Houthis claim ballistic missile strike on Riyadh’s King Khalid airport
Photo: Collected
Yemen’s Houthis have claimed to have carried out a ballistic missile attack targeting the main international airport in the Saudi capital Riyadh. They made the claim on Thursday.
It is yet another attack on Saudi Arabia claimed this week by the Iran-backed group.
A day earlier, the Houthis had claimed that they carried out a series of attacks on various locations in Saudi Arabia.
Three people were killed in those attacks.
At the same time, the Riyadh-backed Yemeni government announced the launch of a major counter-offensive against the Houthis.
The news was reported by news agency AFP.
The Houthis control most of north-western Yemen. Since the country’s civil war intensified again in July, they have been fighting the Yemeni government to seize territory.
Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Saree said on social media platform X, ‘Our armed forces have successfully targeted King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh with a ballistic missile. The missile hit the target accurately and the airport’s operations have been disrupted.’
Saree further said, ‘We are issuing a final call and warning to all international airlines against continuing to operate flights through Saudi airspace.’
This is the third time this week that the Houthis have claimed responsibility for an attack on the airport.
The United Nations said on Wednesday that more than 2 lakh people have been displaced inside Yemen because of the ongoing fighting.