Houthis attack Riyadh airport, fire breaks out (VIDEO)
Yemeni Houthis launched a missile strike on King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh. A fire broke out near the runway, presumably after a missile hit an aircraft. Saudi air defenses intercepted three ballistic missiles. Lufthansa and Air India suspended flights.
Yemeni Houthis launched a missile strike on King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh. A fire broke out near the runway—thick black smoke rose after a missile or its fragments hit one of the aircraft. According to sources, the plane was likely empty, and the fire was quickly extinguished. Saudi authorities have not yet commented on the strike or identified the cause of the blaze. Saudi General Turki al-Maliki reported that air defenses intercepted three ballistic missiles: two heading toward Riyadh and one toward Khamis Mushait, where a major airbase is located. Debris from one missile fell in the capital, damaging a kindergarten and a medical center. Civil defense reported material damage. Lufthansa Group suspended flights to Riyadh until October 16, and Air India canceled flights until October 10. According to Cirium, by 6:00 PM Israeli time, nearly half of departures from the airport were canceled, with another 31 flights possibly canceled on October 9. Earlier, Kursor reported that Saudi Arabia is preparing a large-scale military operation against the Houthis in Yemen.