A projectile hit King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on Sunday, the second strike there in two days, according to the Saudi-led coalition fighting Houthi rebels in Yemen.
The coalition called it an "unidentified projectile." Saudi Arabia's General Authority of Civil Aviation said the attack "resulted in injuries" and that crews are still assessing damage and verifying the safety of the facilities. Coalition spokesman Major General Turki al-Maliki added that air defenses intercepted a cruise missile near the airport. No further details were available right away.
The Iran-backed Houthis later claimed responsibility. They said they carried out "four qualitative operations in the past 24 hours using ballistic and cruise missiles and drones." A spokesman said the group hit Riyadh airport multiple times, along with Dammam airport and two facilities belonging to Aramco, the Saudi state oil company.
The airport was already closed after Saturday's attack, which killed 12 people and injured more than 300. It was the deadliest strike on the kingdom in over a decade. The Indian embassy confirmed Sunday that an Indian citizen wounded Saturday has died. Hours before the latest strike, the Houthis told airlines, employees, workers and travelers to stay away from Saudi airports and airspace, calling them vulnerable to attack.
Common questions
What happened at the Riyadh airport on Sunday?
- A projectile hit King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh on Sunday, the second strike there in two days, according to the Saudi-led coalition fighting Houthi rebels in Yemen. The coalition called it an "unidentified projectile." Saudi aviation officials said the attack resulted in injuries, and crews are still assessing damage.
Who claimed responsibility for the Riyadh airport strike?
- The Iran-backed Houthis later claimed responsibility. They said they carried out "four qualitative operations in the past 24 hours using ballistic and cruise missiles and drones." The coalition's spokesman, Major General Turki al-Maliki, said air defenses intercepted a cruise missile near the airport.
Was anyone hurt in the Riyadh airport attack?
- Yes. Saudi Arabia's General Authority of Civil Aviation said the attack "resulted in injuries," but no further details were available right away. Crews are still assessing damage and verifying the safety of the facilities. The coalition said air defenses intercepted a cruise missile near the airport.
