Yemen’s Houthi rebels launched 20 attacks on King Khalid International Airport in Saudi Arabia’s capital, Riyadh, between October 1 and 11, leaving 17 people dead and 333 injured, according to the Saudi-led coalition fighting the group.
Major General Turki al-Maliki, spokesman for the Coalition to Restore Legitimacy in Yemen, disclosed the figures at a news conference in Riyadh on Thursday.
He said the attacks involved 10 drones, four ballistic missiles, four cruise missiles and two unidentified projectiles.
Al-Maliki said the airport, a civilian facility, had been targeted on multiple days during October.
Deadly Attacks Reported Between October 7 and 11
According to the coalition spokesman, an attack on October 7 killed one person and injured eight others. The following day, three people were killed and five wounded.
The deadliest incident occurred on October 10, when 12 people were reportedly killed and 309 injured.
Another attack on Terminal 3 on October 11 killed one person and wounded 11 others, bringing the reported toll at King Khalid International Airport to 17 dead and 333 injured.
The figures were presented by the Saudi-led coalition and have not been independently verified in the statement.
Coalition Accuses Houthis of Expanding Military Capabilities
Al-Maliki accused the Houthis of acquiring increasingly sophisticated weapons with assistance from regional actors.
“The Houthi terrorist militias have worked to acquire advanced technologies with the help of regional parties,” he said, alleging that the group had developed capabilities involving ballistic missiles, attack drones, suicide drones and fast boats.
He also said the group had attempted to target other airports, oil facilities and ports across Saudi Arabia.
The spokesman alleged that the Houthis maintained mountain storage facilities in areas including Sanaa, Saada and Amran in Yemen, from which attacks were launched against Yemen and neighbouring countries.
He said coalition forces had destroyed missile storage sites in mountainous areas around Sanaa, along with 127 Houthi warehouses and several launch platforms.
Other Saudi Airports Also Targeted
The coalition spokesman reported attacks on several other Saudi airports during October.
An October 7 attack on Abha International Airport reportedly killed two people, a Moroccan and an Algerian national, and injured 28 others.
A separate strike on October 5 at King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz International Airport in Jazan injured three people, according to al-Maliki.
He said attacks on Najran airport on October 6 and King Fahd International Airport in Dammam on October 10 and 11 caused no reported casualties.
In its broader tally, the coalition said attacks on airports across Saudi Arabia had resulted in 19 deaths and 364 injuries.
Rising Regional Security Concerns
The reported strikes highlight the growing threat to civilian aviation and critical infrastructure amid renewed fighting involving the Houthis and forces aligned with Yemen’s internationally recognised government.
Attacks on civilian airports put passengers, airport workers and aviation operations at risk. The escalation also raises concerns about regional security and the potential disruption of travel and commercial activity.
The reported figures and allegations about the Houthis’ weapons capabilities were presented by the Saudi-led coalition. The developments underline the need for independent verification and renewed efforts to protect civilians and civilian infrastructure.
