Riyadh: Preparations are underway to partially reopen King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, the capital of Saudi Arabia, after earlier attacks temporarily suspended airport operations, officials announced on Sunday.
According to the airport administration, Terminal 1 will be designated for domestic flights, and Terminal 2 for international flights of national airlines.
According to the news agency Xinhua, the airport was previously targeted, resulting in reports of several deaths and injuries. Following this, Saudi Arabia’s General Authority of Civil Aviation temporarily suspended airport operations for security reasons.
Houthi rebels intensify attacks on Saudi Arabia
The Houthi group has intensified attacks on Saudi Arabia after Saudi-backed government forces in Yemen launched a military operation to recapture areas held by Houthi rebels.
Meanwhile, a series of attacks between Yemen’s Houthi group and the Saudi-led coalition has intensified. Houthi rebels claimed missile and drone attacks in Saudi Arabia, while the Saudi-led coalition carried out airstrikes on Houthi-controlled areas in Yemen. Several casualties were reported in these attacks.
Houthi military spokesman Yahya Sarie said in a statement that the group carried out seven missile and drone attacks on Saturday. He said these attacks targeted airports, oil installations, and a military base in Riyadh. The cities of Yanbu, Rabigh, Dammam, Najran, and Khamis Mushait were also claimed as targets.
Sari said that Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport was attacked in two phases. Saudi Aramco facilities in Yanbu and King Fahd International Airport in Dammam were also claimed as targets.
Saudi Coalition Claims to Have Foiled Missile and Drone Attacks
On the other hand, the Saudi-led coalition claimed to have intercepted and destroyed several missiles fired toward Riyadh, Taif, and Yanbu. It also reported shooting down a drone in the Eastern Province.
Saudi Arabia’s General Directorate of Civil Defense reported that debris from two intercepted missiles fell in the Mecca and Medina areas. However, the Houthi group later rejected claims of targeting the two holy cities, calling them false and baseless.
Claim of Retaliation Following Airstrikes in Yemen
The Houthi group claimed that its attacks on Saturday were in response to nearly 100 Saudi airstrikes carried out over the past 24 hours on Houthi-controlled areas in Yemen. According to the group, these attacks included the Houthi-controlled capital, Sanaa, and the Red Sea port city of Mocha, located in the southwestern part of Taiz province.
However, these claims and all details related to the attacks have not been independently confirmed.