Yemen Houthi Rebels Escalate Attacks on Saudi Arabia, Targeting Airports and Strategic City

Yemen's Houthi rebels initiated a new wave of attacks against Saudi Arabia on Monday. This escalation follows deadly missile strikes on Riyadh's international airport, which resulted in casualties among passengers, including those preparing for Umrah pilgrimages. Saudi authorities have extended the suspension of operations at King Khalid International Airport until midnight on October 17, following a Saturday attack that claimed 13 lives and injured over 300, and another on Sunday that resulted in one fatality. The King Fahd International Airport in Dammam also sustained damage on Sunday evening, according to Saudi Arabia's General Authority for Civil Aviation, with assessments of the damage ongoing.

Concurrently, Yemeni government forces, supported by the Saudi-led coalition, engaged in clashes with Houthi rebels on the outskirts of the strategically important south-western city of Taiz. These confrontations occurred as the rebels intensified their siege, exacerbating conditions within the Yemeni city. A military spokesperson stated on Monday that air strikes were instrumental in preventing the Houthis from dispatching reinforcements to Taiz. In total, at least 20 individuals have been killed in a series of attacks targeting King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh and the Abha international airport in Saudi Arabia’s Asir province since last week.

Saudi state television broadcast footage capturing the moment a missile impacted the passenger terminal in Riyadh on Saturday. The footage showed flashes of light as travelers, including pilgrims in white attire, sought cover. Ali, a resident of Hyderabad traveling with his family for an Umrah pilgrimage, was injured in Saturday's attack. The Indian embassy in Saudi Arabia confirmed his death on Sunday and is coordinating with his family for the repatriation of his remains.

Airlines have adjusted their schedules due to the disruptions. Etihad Airways cancelled all flights between Abu Dhabi and Riyadh until Monday, October 19, extending the impact on services between the UAE and the Saudi capital into the following week. Flydubai has also cancelled Riyadh flights until Wednesday, October 14, while services from Emirates and Air Arabia have been affected.

The Saudi-led coalition reported responding to drone and cruise missile threats against the kingdom on Monday. These hostilities with the Iran-backed Houthis persist despite ongoing diplomatic initiatives, including a recent phone conversation between the foreign ministers of Saudi Arabia and Iran. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi informed his Saudi counterpart, Prince Faisal bin Farhan, that Tehran was prepared to offer assistance in initiating talks between Saudi Arabia and the Houthis to achieve a political resolution, as reported by Iranian state media. Mr. Araghchi was quoted as stating, "The Foreign Minister of our country, expressing concern over the escalation of tensions, emphasised that insisting on a military approach and ignoring political solutions would complicate the existing situation."

In response to the continued attacks on Saudi Arabia, Dr. Anwar Gargash, diplomatic adviser to President Sheikh Mohamed, advocated for enhanced Gulf security and collective defence measures. In a statement shared on X, Dr. Gargash asserted that the security of all Gulf states is interconnected and that attacks against Saudi Arabia pose a threat to the wider Gulf region. He further warned that deficiencies in regional cooperation have contributed to the current challenges.

US Central Command chief, Admiral Brad Cooper, announced that the United States and its regional allies are implementing the "largest air-defence umbrella in the world" to deter Iranian attacks. He described this initiative as part of an "enduring security architecture" in the Middle East. Admiral Cooper noted that this vision was developed in collaboration with regional allies and partners. He highlighted that during Operation Epic Fury earlier this year, the Middle East Air Defence network, known as Mead, was validated at full scale and in actual combat. He added, "Through our combined efforts, we transformed a concept into the most sophisticated and largest air-defence umbrella in the world." He further stated, "For the first time in history, US air defenders stood shoulder-to-shoulder with allies and partners across the Middle East, linking national systems in real time. And so together we intercepted thousands of Iranian attack drones and missiles with an integrated shield built on mutual trust. This is partnership in action."