RIYADH – A projectile struck Saudi Arabia’s King Khalid International Airport on Sunday, claiming the life of a Pakistani national and leaving 11 others injured. The attack marks the fourth time in just five days that the vital aviation hub has been targeted, signaling a violent escalation in the ongoing conflict between the Saudi-led coalition and Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen.
The General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) confirmed that the projectile hit terminals 3 and 4, which facilitate domestic travel. Emergency services were immediately deployed to the site, and the injured were transported to various local hospitals for medical treatment. GACA officials have since initiated comprehensive safety inspections and structural damage assessments.
Witnesses on the ground described a chaotic scene. One passenger, aboard an aircraft taxiing toward the runway at approximately 8:30 p.m. local time, reported seeing a projectile strike the tarmac in close proximity to parked jets, triggering an immediate fire. The aircraft was forced to return to its gate, where passengers were evacuated.
This latest strike follows a devastating attack on Saturday, which remains the deadliest incident in the country since the regional conflict expanded in late February. The Saudi-led coalition confirmed that Saturday’s missile strike on the airport resulted in 12 deaths and over 300 injuries. On Sunday, the Indian embassy in Saudi Arabia reported that one of its citizens had succumbed to injuries sustained in that earlier attack, raising the death toll from Saturday’s incident to 13.
The frequency of these assaults has sent shockwaves through the region, as the airport—a primary gateway to the Saudi capital—has faced repeated strikes since Thursday. Early reports indicated that three Saudi citizens, including a pilot, were killed in an initial barrage last week. With the airport currently closed, the impact on regional logistics and travel is substantial.
The escalating violence has placed the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump in a difficult position. President Trump has signaled that he is weighing potential U.S. military intervention to assist the Saudi government, though no formal confirmation of a policy shift has been made. Following a request for assistance from Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the White House has remained tight-lipped regarding any forthcoming operational support.
The situation carries broader economic implications, as the conflict in Yemen risks destabilizing global oil supplies. The Houthi rebels’ recent seizure of territory along the Bab al-Mandeb strait—a critical maritime choke point for international shipping—has already alarmed global markets. Analysts fear that any direct U.S. military involvement could provoke the rebels to further restrict commercial traffic through the strait, potentially disrupting the flow of energy exports from the Gulf.
As the airport remains under strict lockdown, the international community watches nervously to see if the region is on the precipice of a much wider conflict.
Disclaimer: This content is auto-generated for informational purposes only.
Source: Read Original News
