Houthi strikes disrupt Riyadh airport

RIYADH – Houthi missile strikes on King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh damaged a Saudia passenger jet and forced the cancellation of nearly half of all scheduled flights, Saudi authorities and aviation trackers said. The first strike hit airport facilities and the second struck the aircraft. Reports differed on casualties, with the civil aviation authority citing three deaths. Saudia said its captain, Hamoud Ali Al-Khaltami, was among the dead.

Flights grounded

Aviation analytics firm Cirium said 169 of 378 scheduled departures, about 45 percent, were cancelled or listed as no-fly. Lufthansa Group, Air India, IndiGo, EgyptAir and Philippine Airlines suspended Riyadh services, while Etihad cancelled eight flights. In Pakistan, airport sources reported 42 cancellations on security grounds, and PIA temporarily suspended flights to Riyadh and advised passengers to contact its call centre before heading to the airport.

Houthis claim attacks

Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree said the group fired two cruise missiles at Riyadh's airport, its third attack there, along with missiles at an airport in Najran and an airbase in Khamis Mushait. The Saudi-led coalition said it intercepted and destroyed missiles aimed at Riyadh and Khamis Mushait.

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Regional fallout

Riyadh backs an offensive by Yemen's internationally recognised government to regain territory held by the Houthis. Earlier attacks on Riyadh and Abha airports killed three people and wounded 36, according to Saudi civil aviation authorities. Pakistan's prime minister condemned the strikes, and Arab and regional organisations also issued condemnations of the attacks on civilian facilities.