Riyadh Airport Attack: 1 Killed, 11 Injured After Houthi Strike; Iran-backed group warning | Best Update | Today’s news

Tensions in the Middle East continue to rise after another attack by Iran-backed Houthis on Saudi Arabia’s King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh on Sunday (local time), adding to instability in the already tense region.

The development comes amid a regional conflict that began in late February this year, when the United States and Israel launched a joint operation against Iran that killed several senior leaders, including then-Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. While Riyadh has largely avoided direct involvement in the conflict, the kingdom is now facing heightened tensions as the Houthis step up their attacks.

Here are the main updates on the Saudi-Houthi attacks:

1. On Sunday (local time), the Houthis launched another attack targeting Saudi Arabia’s King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, killing one person and wounding 11 others. The attack came a day after 12 were reported dead and more than 300 injured in an attack on the airport. A Saudi military spokesman said the airport was hit by a projectile on October 11, causing a fire in one of its passenger halls. In a statement on X, the Royal Civil Aviation Authority identified the person killed as a Pakistani resident.

2. Saudi-led coalition forces in Yemen said Riyadh’s air defenses intercepted a cruise missile near an airport. They later added that a drone was intercepted and destroyed in the country’s eastern province, along with a ballistic missile fired at Khamis Mushait. Saudi Arabia’s civil defense said emergency warnings were also issued in Abha early Monday, but the danger had passed.

3. On October 11, the Houthis renewed their warning against using Saudi airports. The group said: “We urge everyone to take our warnings seriously, and Saudi Arabia bears responsibility for any failed interception.” The warning came after the group said Riyadh had carried out at least 124 airstrikes in Yemen in the past 24 hours. Yemen’s Houthi-led foreign ministry added: “If the Saudi enemy does not stop its aggression and interference in Yemen, worse is yet to come, God willing,” Reuters reported.

4. Renewed Houthi attacks on Saudi airports come as the Middle East’s largest economy prepares to hold major events aimed at boosting foreign investment. An explosion at Riyadh airport on October 10 brought air traffic to a near standstill, with most flights either canceled or suspended. It also forced the capital’s financial center to switch to remote work until further notice, while executives from BP and Shell were forced to pull out of a major energy event planned for this week.

5. On Sunday, the UK government advised against travel to Jeddah, Dammam and all Saudi airports except Medina, which is non-essential. It also urged British nationals to consider leaving Saudi Arabia via land borders with neighboring countries. Separately, the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) on Sunday advised all US airlines to exercise caution when flying to or over parts of Saudi Arabia “at all altitudes”.

6. As the Houthis continue to target the kingdom’s airport, Saudi Arabia’s foreign ministry said Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud held a telephone conversation with his Iranian counterpart Abbas Araghchi to discuss the latest regional developments and efforts to de-escalate tensions. According to Al Jazeera, the call was the first publicly reported contact between the two sides since the Houthis stepped up their attacks against the kingdom.

7. India and the US were among the countries that condemned the attacks, expressed solidarity with Saudi Arabia and called for an end to strikes against civilians and civilian infrastructure. India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) called the repeated attacks unacceptable and demanded an immediate halt.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the Houthi strikes reflected “blatant disregard for innocent civilian life” and reiterated Washington’s support for Saudi Arabia. Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump said his administration was considering whether to participate in Saudi strikes against the Houthi rebels.