Three Killed as Houthi Drones and Missiles Strike Saudi Airports

Saudi authorities confirmed the death of three civilians in attacks on two major airports over the last 48 hours, marking a sharp spike in violence on the kingdom’s northern and western borders. The attacks, attributed to Iran‑backed Houthi fighters, involved both ballistic missiles and drones.

In Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport, a single fatality and eight wounded were reported on the 7th of October. The Abha International Airport in the southwestern city saw two fatalities—both women of Moroccan and Algerian nationality—and 28 injuries during an assault on the 6th of October.

The Houthi spokesperson, Yahya Saree, said the strikes were retaliation for “60 airstrikes and missile attacks in the past 24 hours” by Saudi forces. He also announced an attack on Aden’s international airport, a key hub outside Houthi control.

The escalation follows the Houthis’ rapid gains along Yemen’s western coast, which includes the capture of Mokha and the crucial Bab al‑Mandab Strait. In response, a Saudi‑led coalition pledged an all‑out war to reclaim Houthi‑held territories, threatening to strike more than 80 rebel sites across Saada, Al Hudaydah, Al Jawf and Ma'rib.

UN Secretary‑General António Guterres condemned the renewed cross‑border attacks, expressing deep concern over the heightened brutality. Over 200,000 people have been displaced by the ongoing cycle of strikes, with casualties mounting on both sides.

The violence has not only jeopardized regional stability but also raised alarm over the safety of commercial air corridors that traverse the Gulf of Aden and the Red Sea, routes that are pivotal to global shipping traffic.