Houthi missile strikes on Riyadh airport killed three people and injured several others, according to Saudi authorities, as fighting between Saudi Arabia and Yemen’s Houthi movement intensified amid the wider Middle East conflict.The attacks damaged a Saudia Airlines aircraft and sent smoke rising above the airport. Several airlines cancelled flights to Riyadh, disrupting international travel ahead of a major global energy conference scheduled in the Saudi capital.

Saudi aviation authorities subsequently announced that airport operations had returned to normal, although flight cancellations and delays continued across several routes.Saudi Arabia responded with airstrikes targeting Houthi positions in Yemen’s capital, Sanaa. A Saudi-led coalition said its forces destroyed three missile launch platforms used by the group.The escalation comes as Houthi fighters battle Saudi-backed Yemeni government forces for control of strategically important territory, particularly near the Red Sea and Bab el-Mandeb Strait.

Houthis Threaten Fresh Strikes On Saudi Arabia

Houthis have intensified fighting around Yemen’s Taiz region, disrupting a major road connecting the city with surrounding areas. The group has also threatened further missile strikes against Saudi aircraft and oil facilities, raising concerns over the kingdom’s airspace security. European aviation regulators have expanded flight warnings due to growing risks to civilian aircraft. The escalating conflict also threatens international energy markets and vital oil transportation routes.

Disruptions around the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, combined with restrictions affecting the Strait of Hormuz, threaten global oil transportation and shipping routes.Saudi Arabia is seeking additional security assistance from regional partners, including Pakistan and Turkey, to counter missile threats and support military operations.Meanwhile, international airlines continue assessing the safety of Saudi airspace as tensions rise.