Houthi strikes on Riyadh airport kill three Saudis as war escalates

Houthi group: The Houthi group, also known as Ansar Allah, is a political and military movement based in Yemen that controls significant territory and operates as an Iran-allied force in the ongoing civil war. In this news, the group carried out missile strikes on Riyadh airport, killing three people and damaging aircraft, as part of intensified attacks aimed at shutting down Saudi airspace amid broader regional fighting. Saudi Arabia: Saudi Arabia is a Gulf kingdom that leads a coalition supporting Yemen's internationally recognized government against Houthi forces in the civil war. The news describes its immediate response to the Houthi strikes, including overnight airstrikes on Sanaa targets, destruction of missile launchers, and appeals for assistance from partners like Pakistan and Turkey. Tala Ramadan: Tala Ramadan is a Reuters journalist based in Dubai who contributes reporting on Gulf and Yemeni affairs. She provided on-the-ground details from Dubai for the article on the escalating Houthi-Saudi exchanges. Timour Azhari: Timour Azhari is a Reuters correspondent based in Riyadh specializing in coverage of Middle East conflicts and regional developments. He reported the details of the Houthi attacks on Riyadh airport and Saudi authorities' statements for this story. Angus McDowall: Angus McDowall is a Reuters editor and writer focusing on Middle East news and conflict reporting. He wrote the summary and analysis of the Houthi strikes and their context in the wider Yemen war for this piece. • One person was killed and eight wounded at King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh. • Two people were killed and 28 wounded at Abha airport in southern Saudi Arabia. • Saudi authorities identified the Riyadh fatality as a Sudanese national; five Saudi citizens were among those injured there. • Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Saree claimed the attacks used ballistic missiles and said Riyadh airport operations were disrupted. • Saudi-backed Yemeni forces launched a major counteroffensive against the Iran-aligned Houthis shortly before the airport strikes. • Saudi-led forces reportedly retaliated against Houthi missile storage sites and command centers in Yemen.