Riyadh's King Khalid International Airport experienced a fresh projectile attack on Sunday, October 12, resulting in one death and 11 injuries. Saudi Arabia's General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) identified the deceased as a Pakistani resident, confirming the injured were transported to various hospitals for treatment.
The latest strike specifically targeted terminals 3 and 4, which primarily serve domestic flights. A witness aboard a taxiing aircraft reported seeing a projectile hit the tarmac near several parked planes around 8:30 pm local time, triggering a fire. Passengers were subsequently asked to disembark and leave the area as the aircraft returned to its gate. Following the incident, GACA announced authorities were assessing the damage and conducting safety inspections of the airport facilities.
This attack occurred a day after a more severe missile strike on the same airport claimed 12 lives and injured over 300 people. India's embassy in Saudi Arabia has confirmed that one of its citizens succumbed to injuries sustained in Saturday's attack, elevating that specific death toll to 13. The Saudi-led coalition, actively fighting Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen, attributed Saturday's strike to the insurgent group.
King Khalid International Airport has now been targeted four times in five days, including earlier attacks on Thursday that killed at least three Saudi citizens, one of whom was a pilot. Airport operations have remained suspended since Saturday's deadly assault, which was described as the deadliest attack in Saudi Arabia since the US-Israel war on Iran began in late February.
The repeated attacks have significantly heightened tensions in the Yemen conflict and raised concerns about potential US military involvement. US President Donald Trump has indicated he is considering whether Washington should join the fight against the Houthis and had expressed an intention to speak with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman for assistance, though no follow-up was reported on Sunday. This escalation also poses risks to global oil supplies and prices, alongside commercial shipping through the Bab al-Mandeb Strait, a crucial alternative route to the Strait of Hormuz for energy shipments. Houthis seized key areas along the strait last month, which the Saudi-led coalition is attempting to recapture, fearing US intervention could prompt further disruption to oil shipments.
Image: daijiworld.com
đź“° Source: Daijiworld