Houthis strike Riyadh airport again with ballistic missile, intercepted by Saudi forces

Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi rebels fired a ballistic missile at Riyadh's international airport Monday evening (local time), continuing their escalating campaign against Saudi Arabia, but Saudi-led coalition forces intercepted the projectile.

Turki al-Maliki, spokesperson for both the Saudi-led coalition and Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Defense, announced on social media platform X that forces had "successfully intercepted and destroyed a ballistic missile fired by the Houthi terrorist militia toward Riyadh."

Saudi authorities had earlier sent early-warning alerts to residents in Riyadh, cautioning that a potential hostile threat was approaching.

Witnesses said three explosions were heard across the city, believed to be the sound of the missile being intercepted.

A South Korean resident in Riyadh said, "There were three loud bangs. It appeared that Saudi forces had intercepted the missiles."

The Houthis confirmed the ballistic missile attack on Riyadh's international airport and renewed their warning for travelers to stop using airports across Saudi Arabia.

Yahya Sare'e, the Houthi military spokesperson, said in a statement that "our armed forces targeted King Khalid International Airport in the Saudi capital Riyadh with a ballistic missile this evening, striking it with precision."

He added that "no airport in Saudi Arabia is safe" except those serving the Islamic holy cities of Mecca and Medina, and warned "all international airlines, as well as experts, employees, workers and travelers from all countries, to avoid flying to or using Saudi airports."

Sare'e also said that "separately, our forces carried out a military operation targeting the Khamis Mushait air base in Saudi Arabia using drones, and by the grace of God, the strike was direct."

The Houthis have been mounting near-daily attacks in recent weeks on international airports in Riyadh and other cities, as well as oil facilities in eastern Saudi Arabia.

Saturday's attack on King Khalid International Airport involved both missiles and drones, killing 14 people and wounding more than 300.

A follow-up attack Sunday killed one more person and wounded more than 10 others.

Foreign media reported that King Khalid International Airport, Riyadh's main gateway, will remain closed until Saturday.

The Houthis have intensified their strikes on Riyadh as Saudi Arabia hosts the World Petroleum Congress (WPC Energy Congress), to which the kingdom invited energy officials and executives from around the world.

The conference had originally been scheduled for last April but was postponed due to the war between the United States and Israel on one side and Iran on the other. Saudi Arabia pressed ahead with the event despite its ongoing armed conflict with the Houthis.

The sustained Houthi attacks have nonetheless disrupted the gathering, with several key speakers — including energy company CEOs — pulling out of the event.