Saudi Arabia says Houthi rebels launched 20 attacks on Riyadh airport this month, killing 17

The Saudi Arabia-led coalition said Thursday that Houthi rebels had launched 20 attacks this month on King Khalid International Airport in the Saudi capital Riyadh, killing 17 people and wounding 333.

Turki al-Maliki, spokesperson for both the coalition and the Saudi Ministry of National Defense, disclosed the casualty figures at a press conference that day and said the Houthis had also attempted strikes on dozens of airports, oil facilities and ports across Saudi Arabia.

The coalition added that Houthi attacks on Abha International Airport in southwestern Saudi Arabia, near the Yemeni border, had killed two people and wounded 28.

Al-Maliki released footage of the strikes on King Khalid International Airport and urged the Houthis to "immediately halt attacks targeting civilians and civilian infrastructure, including airports, ports and oil facilities."

He also alleged that regional actors had supported the Houthi rebels in carrying out the repeated strikes against Saudi Arabia.

"The Houthi militia, a terrorist group, has acquired advanced technology with the help of regional forces," al-Maliki said. "With that support, they have obtained ballistic missiles, attack and suicide drones, and fast boats laden with explosives."

However, he did not identify which country or group was providing that support.

A Saudi Foreign Ministry official, however, pointed directly to Iran.

Raed Krimly, Saudi Arabia's deputy foreign minister for public diplomacy, said in a video briefing with reporters that day that "Iran continues to arm, train and support the Houthi militia in violation of UN Security Council resolutions."

Krimly added that Iran had instigated the escalation of Houthi attacks seen in the latest phase of the conflict.

He said Saudi Arabia had sought dialogue with the Houthis in recent weeks as the armed conflict intensified, but those efforts had come to nothing.

"When this crisis began to escalate, we asked to meet in Muscat, but they refused," Krimly said. "That proposal, made a few weeks ago, was the last communication we had."