Houthis Carried Out 20 Attacks on Riyadh Airport in October, Saudi-Led Coalition Says

RIYADH (Terror Monitor) — Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi movement has carried out 20 attacks targeting King Khalid International Airport in the Saudi capital, Riyadh, so far in October, according to the spokesperson for the Saudi-led military coalition fighting the group.

Coalition spokesperson Brigadier General Turki al-Maliki said on Thursday that Houthi attacks on October 7 and 11 killed 17 people and injured 333 others. He made the remarks while outlining the group’s alleged attacks against Saudi Arabia and the coalition’s military operations against Houthi targets in Yemen.

According to al-Maliki, the Houthis have attempted to strike dozens of airports, oil facilities and seaports in Saudi Arabia, using drones, missiles and other projectiles.

The latest figures highlight the growing security challenges facing the kingdom as tensions escalate between Saudi Arabia and the Iran-backed movement, which controls significant territory in Yemen.

Ten Drones and Missiles Used in Airport Attacks

Al-Maliki said the attacks against King Khalid International Airport involved a total of 10 drones, missiles and other projectiles.

The airport is one of Saudi Arabia’s principal international aviation hubs and serves as a critical gateway to Riyadh, the kingdom’s political and administrative capital.

The reported attacks have raised concerns about the safety of civilian aviation, passengers and airport personnel amid the intensifying confrontation.

The coalition spokesperson also said Houthi operations had targeted other critical infrastructure, including oil installations, ports and airports across Saudi Arabia.

The attacks come amid wider regional tensions and concerns over the potential impact of missile and drone strikes on civilian infrastructure, commercial aviation and energy supplies.

Saudi Arabia Accuses Iran of Arming and Training Houthis

Separately, a senior Saudi Foreign Ministry official accused Iran of encouraging the Houthis to intensify their attacks against Saudi Arabia and providing the group with weapons, training and other assistance.

Dr. Raed Krimly, Saudi Arabia’s Deputy Minister for Public Diplomacy, made the allegations during a virtual briefing with journalists on Thursday.

Krimly said Tehran continued to provide military support to the Houthis in violation of United Nations Security Council resolutions.

He argued that Iran’s alleged assistance was contributing to the escalation in hostilities during the latest phase of the conflict.

"Our assessment is that the escalation by the Houthis in this current phase of the conflict is a result of encouragement from Iran," Krimly said, according to the remarks reported by BBC Arabic.

The Saudi official said Riyadh believed Tehran was not playing a constructive role in efforts to contain the confrontation.

However, he confirmed that Saudi Arabia continued to maintain direct communication channels with Iran despite its concerns about Tehran’s regional activities.

"We maintain direct channels of communication with Iran," Krimly said.

He added that, at present, Iranian officials did not appear to be in a position to make concessions that could help bring the conflict to a resolution.

Iran had not issued an immediate response to the latest Saudi allegations at the time of the reported briefing.

Houthis Rejected Saudi Invitation for Talks in Muscat

Krimly also accused the Houthi movement of rejecting a Saudi invitation to hold talks in Muscat, the capital of Oman, as part of efforts to reduce regional tensions.

According to the Saudi official, Riyadh had sought a meeting with Houthi representatives in recent weeks to explore ways to de-escalate the situation.

"At the beginning of this latest escalation, we invited them to meet in Muscat, Oman, but they refused," Krimly said.

He added that the last communication between the two sides had taken place several weeks earlier.

Despite the reported refusal, Krimly said communication channels with the Houthis remained open, indicating that Saudi Arabia had not entirely abandoned the possibility of direct engagement.

The developments underscore the difficulties facing diplomatic efforts to contain the confrontation, particularly as attacks against Saudi territory continue and Riyadh accuses Tehran of supporting the Houthi military campaign.

Oman has previously played a role in diplomatic efforts involving Yemen and regional powers, serving as a venue for contacts intended to reduce tensions and facilitate negotiations.

Coalition Reports Destruction of 127 Houthi Storage Facilities

During the same press conference, al-Maliki outlined the Saudi-led coalition’s military operations against the Houthis in Yemen.

He said coalition forces had destroyed 127 Houthi storage facilities located in mountainous areas of Yemen.

The announcement came as the coalition sought to counter the group’s missile and drone capabilities, which Saudi officials say have been used in attacks against airports, oil installations and other infrastructure.

The reported destruction of the facilities could affect the Houthis’ ability to store military equipment and maintain their operational capabilities, although the coalition did not provide a detailed assessment of the impact of the strikes.

The statement also did not independently establish the precise locations of all the facilities or the types and quantities of weapons allegedly stored there.

The Saudi-led coalition has been fighting the Houthis for years as part of the wider conflict in Yemen, where the movement seized the capital, Sanaa, in 2014 and subsequently expanded its control over large parts of the country.

Escalation Raises Regional Security Concerns

The latest developments point to a widening confrontation involving Saudi Arabia, the Houthis and Iran, with potential implications for regional security, energy infrastructure and international aviation.

Saudi Arabia has accused Tehran of supplying weapons and training to the Houthis, while maintaining that direct communication with Iran remains possible.

The reported refusal of a meeting in Muscat, meanwhile, highlights the challenges of restarting diplomatic engagement at a time when military operations and attacks against critical infrastructure are continuing.

The reported attacks on Riyadh’s airport and other Saudi facilities have also increased concerns about the vulnerability of civilian and economic infrastructure to drone and missile strikes.

Although Saudi officials have presented the latest coalition operations as part of efforts to counter the Houthi threat, the longer-term outcome will depend on developments on the battlefield and whether diplomatic channels can produce meaningful progress.

For now, Riyadh says it remains in direct contact with Tehran, while continuing military operations against Houthi targets in Yemen.