A Houthi missile strike on King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh killed 12 people and injured 309, including a Bangladeshi Islamic scholar. The attack, which occurred on Saturday, is the deadliest on Saudi soil in over a decade. The Saudi-led coalition intercepted the missile, preventing further damage.
Qatar Airways temporarily suspended flights to and from Riyadh and Dammam following the attack. The airline urged passengers to check for updates. The disruption affected both commercial and religious travel, including pilgrims heading to Mecca.
The Houthi group, based in Yemen, has developed advanced hypersonic missiles, including the Palestine-2, which travel 16 times the speed of sound. These weapons are more accurate and harder to intercept than previous North Korean-supplied missiles. The increased lethality has raised concerns among international leaders.
The attack has drawn condemnation from global Islamic leaders, including 176 figures who criticized the Houthi actions as a threat to the sanctity of the Two Holy Mosques. Saudi authorities have reiterated their commitment to security, while the Houthi group warned of a "swift, painful response" if the United States becomes involved in the Yemen conflict.
The conflict in Yemen, which began in 2015, has seen escalating violence between Houthi rebels and Saudi-backed forces. The recent attacks highlight the ongoing instability and the growing sophistication of Houthi military capabilities.
