Riyadh Airport Attack Kills One, Injures 11

A projectile struck Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport on Sunday. It killed a Pakistani resident and injured 11 people, Saudi Arabia’s civil aviation authority said. The authority confirmed the toll on Monday, making the latest strike deadlier than early reports of injuries alone suggested. It came just a day after a far worse attack at the airport. ^2,12

The Sunday projectile hit the area of Terminals 3 and 4, which serve domestic flights, and caused a fire. A witness told Reuters it landed near parked planes while an aircraft was taxiing; passengers returned to the gate and were told to leave. The Houthis, an armed group that controls parts of Yemen and is backed by Iran, claimed earlier attacks on Riyadh. They said they had also targeted Dammam airport and Saudi Aramco sites. Saudi Arabia confirmed an attack at Dammam but gave few details. ^8,12

Dammam and Riyadh are now part of a wider threat to travel and trade. Riyadh airport has been closed since Saturday’s attack, which Saudi authorities said killed 13 people and injured more than 300. An Indian citizen, Hyderabad resident Mohammed Yousuf, died from injuries sustained in that strike; his family members were also hurt. The Houthis and the Saudi-led coalition are trading attacks. Britain has advised against all but essential travel to most Saudi airports, while US aviation authorities have urged airlines to use caution. The fighting also raises concern about oil supplies and shipping through the Red Sea’s Bab el-Mandeb Strait. ^5,13

The airport’s reopening depends on damage checks and safety inspections, which Saudi aviation officials say are under way. The coalition has promised a firm response, while the Houthis have warned that Saudi airports remain targets. US President Donald Trump has said he is considering whether to join the fight, but the sources report no decision. ^12,15