Three Killed in Houthi Attack on Riyadh Airport, Including Saudi Pilot

RIYADH (Terror Monitor) — Three Saudi nationals, including an airline pilot, were killed in attacks on King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh and a Saudia Airlines aircraft on Thursday, according to information released by Saudi civil aviation authorities. Several people of different nationalities were also injured, with the severity of their injuries ranging from minor to critical.

According to officials, the first attack targeted airport facilities, while a second strike hit a Saudia Airlines aircraft. Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi rebels claimed responsibility for a ballistic missile attack on the airport, although the Saudi statement did not identify those responsible for the attacks.

Among those killed was Captain Hamoud bin Ali Al-Kalthami, a pilot employed by Saudi Arabia’s national carrier. His death was confirmed in information concerning the incident, which also affected an aircraft belonging to the Saudia Group.

The airline group said one of its aircraft was damaged while parked on the ground. No passengers were aboard the aircraft at the time of the incident, according to the information provided.

The attacks add to a series of security incidents involving Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport in recent days. Earlier this week, a Sudanese national was also killed at the airport, highlighting growing concerns over the safety of one of Saudi Arabia’s key aviation hubs.

The injuries reported in Thursday’s attacks varied in severity, from minor wounds to critical conditions. Further details about the identities of the injured, the extent of the damage to airport facilities and the circumstances surrounding the attacks were not immediately available.

The airport, located northeast of the Saudi capital, serves as a major international gateway for Riyadh and a key hub for domestic and international air travel. Any disruption to its operations could have implications for passenger travel and regional aviation security.

Saudi-led coalition says three Houthi rocket launch platforms destroyed

Separately, the Saudi-led military coalition fighting the Houthis in Yemen said it had destroyed three Houthi rocket-launching platforms that it described as posing a threat to regional security.

The coalition did not provide further details about the precise locations of the platforms or the timing of the operation in the information provided.

The developments come amid continuing hostilities involving the Iran-backed Houthi movement and the Saudi-led coalition. The Houthis have repeatedly used missiles and other projectiles in attacks targeting Saudi territory, while the coalition has carried out military operations aimed at weakening the group’s military capabilities.

The reported attacks on Riyadh’s airport and a Saudia Airlines aircraft underscore the potential risks to civilian infrastructure and commercial aviation amid escalating regional security tensions.

Saudi authorities had not identified the perpetrators in their statement, while the Houthi claim of responsibility specifically referred to the ballistic missile attack on the airport. Further independent details establishing the circumstances of both reported attacks were not available in the information provided.