Key events
Houthis issue warning against use of Saudi airports
The Houthis this morning have just also issued a warning to travellers and airlines against using Saudi airports following yesterday’s attack.
It’s the first public message from the group since Saturday’s deadly assault.
Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree said airports and airspace “are exposed to targeting and constitute a theatre of operations for our forces”, he said, adding that the group was pursuing: “airport for airport, siege for siege, and escalation for escalation”.
He said the airports in Mecca and Medina – the holiest cities in Islam- were excepted.
All week the Houthis have been striking the main international airport, which was first targeted about a fortnight ago as fighting ramped up within Yemen.
The Saudi-led coalition backing the official forces in Yemen have launched an outright offensive in the country this week to try and push back the Houthis who’ve rapidly seized and gained territory over the last few weeks.
12 killed at Riyadh airport and hundreds wounded in Saturday strike
Saturday’s attack was the third launched on the Saudi capital’s main airport this week- with the missile making it past Saudi air defences to strike terminals 3 and 4 of King Khalid airport where hundreds of passengers were awaiting domestic flights.
The attack killed at least 12 people and injured 309 at last count, say Saudi officials.
The dead include four Saudi citizens, two Bangladeshi nationals, a Palestinian, a US citizen, an Egyptian, a Jordanian, a Syrian and a Sudanese.
A projectile also fell near the King Fahd international airport in Dammam, according to the Saudi-led coalition fighting the Houthis.
The Dammam airport has been an important alternative to Riyadh amid the recent spate of attacks.
Opening summary
Good morning and welcome to our live coverage of rapidly unfolding events in the Middle East.
After attacking Saudi Arabia’s main international airport on Saturday in strikes which killed at least 12 people and injured 309, the Houthis have issued another message this morning about the kingdom’s airports.
In response to the Houthi’s assault – the deadliest in Saudi Arabia in over a decade – US President Donald Trump has said Washington may join the Saudis in carrying out air strikes against the Iran-backed group in Yemen.
Trump said: “We may. We’re going to look at it. We just found out about the recent attack, so we’ll make a decision. We move very quickly.”
About the Author
