A Saudi-led coalition supporting Yemen's internationally recognized government announced on Tuesday that it had intercepted three ballistic missiles launched by Houthi rebels at Riyadh and another Saudi city, in response to a series of recent attacks resulting in casualties in both nations.
The Houthi terrorist militia launched a ballistic missile at Riyadh, which was successfully intercepted and destroyed by Saudi defenses. Similar action was taken against two other missiles targeting the southwestern city of Jamis Mushait, according to Turki al-Maliki, the alliance spokesman.
Riyadh, the Saudi capital, experienced powerful explosions on Monday night, prompting an official warning to residents via mobile phone alert. The alert instructed individuals to seek shelter in a secure location, marking the first such notification in weeks.
The Houthi movement, supported by Iran, condemned a Saudi-led airstrike in Yemen's northern province of Al Yauf, which resulted in the deaths of at least nine civilians, comprising five children and a female victim. The location of the strike, situated near the Saudi border, has made the Al Yauf province a recurring focal point in the ongoing conflict.
A series of attacks on Riyadh's King Khalid International Airport resulted in the temporary closure of the facility, with operations expected to resume next Saturday. The violence, which occurred over a three-day period from Friday to Sunday, left at least seventeen people dead and approximately 300 others injured.
Saudi Arabia's second-largest airport, King Jalid International Airport, temporarily ceased operations in the aftermath of the devastating attacks.
Airlines operating in Europe and Asia have temporarily halted their services due to the ongoing disruption.
Lufthansa Group has temporarily suspended all flights to Riyadh, with the suspension set to remain in effect until October 16. Meanwhile, Air France-KLM has extended its suspension of flights to and from Riyadh, with the revised suspension period now lasting until the end of October.
Etihad Airways has announced the cancellation of flights between Abu Dhabi and Riyadh, as well as between Abu Dhabi and Jeddah and Dammam, citing disruptions in the region. The airline stated that flights between Abu Dhabi and Riyadh will remain suspended until October 19.
Qatar Airways has temporarily halted flights to and from Riyadh and Dammam, citing the current circumstances. Separately, Delta Air Lines has announced a postponement of its scheduled services between Atlanta and Riyadh, which was originally set to commence on October 23, 2024, until March 2027.
Saudi aviation has recently faced a significant disruption due to Houthi attacks, further exacerbating challenges in the sector, which is already navigating conflicts across the Middle East and grappling with rising fuel costs that erode profit margins.
Concerns have been expressed regarding the potential for civil aviation to become a focal point in armed conflict.
Data from air traffic tracking service Flightradar24 indicated that aircraft were diverting around the city on Monday, with some planes entering Saudi airspace and subsequently landing at the main operations center in Jeddah, located on the west coast of the country.
US President Donald Trump reportedly engaged in a conversation with Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman regarding the Houthi attacks.
The Houthi group is exhibiting concerning behavior, according to a recent statement made in Washington.
US President Donald Trump confirmed that he had discussed the recent insurgent attacks with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
Yemen's Houthi rebels issued a warning on Monday, stating they would swiftly and severely retaliate if the United States intervened in the country's domestic conflict. This warning came in response to Saudi Arabia's request for US support in escalating attacks against the kingdom, which is a key ally of Washington.
In 2014, Yemeni insurgents successfully captured the capital city of Sanaa, subsequently expanding their control to significant areas of northern and western Yemen. This development prompted a Saudi-led military intervention in 2015, aimed at supporting the internationally recognized government of Yemen.
A recent surge in tensions between Riyadh and Houthi rebels began in mid-July, following allegations by the Houthis that Saudi Arabia had bombed Sanaa airport to prevent an Iranian aircraft from landing. The Saudi-led Yemeni Army had earlier claimed responsibility for the action.
Tensions in Yemen have intensified significantly, with escalating cross-border attacks between government forces backed by Riyadh and the Houthi rebels. In recent weeks, the Houthi group has launched a series of missile and drone strikes against Saudi targets, including airports, military installations, and critical energy infrastructure.
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