Saudi Arabia has suspended flights at its main airport after a Houthi attack killed 14 people and injured over 300, with the kingdom investigating how air defenses failed to stop the missiles. The attacks have raised fears of wider regional conflict as the US considers joining Saudi military operations against the Houthis.
The attacks on Riyadh's King Khalid International Airport and Dammam airport followed a wave of Houthi strikes that have tested Saudi infrastructure and resilience. Saudi officials have warned of continued threats to transit hubs, with the Houthis vowing to target more sites across the kingdom.
Saudi Arabia is under pressure to find a solution to the conflict in Yemen, which has disrupted its economic diversification efforts. The kingdom's energy minister emphasized the need for resilience in the face of ongoing threats, while officials investigate how Houthi missiles breached air defenses despite significant military investments.
The Houthis have blamed Saudi Arabia for attacks on Yemen's capital, Sanaa, and have warned of a 'painful response' if the US enters the war. Saudi Arabia's air defenses are under scrutiny as the kingdom struggles to protect critical infrastructure amid escalating tensions with Iran-backed groups.