Yemen's Houthi movement has issued a stark warning that "worse is yet to come" after launching a second wave of strikes on Saudi Arabian airports, killing one person and wounding 11 others in an attack on Riyadh's King Khalid International Airport in the early hours of Monday. The fresh assault came less than 24 hours after a devastating missile strike on the same airport killed 12 people and injured more than 300, in what authorities described as the deadliest attack on the kingdom in more than a decade.
The Saudi-led coalition confirmed that an "unidentified projectile" struck terminal four of King Khalid International Airport, triggering a fire. Saudi Arabia's civil aviation authority identified the sole fatality as a Pakistani resident. The coalition also reported intercepting a cruise missile in the vicinity of the airport, and later confirmed that a drone had been detected and destroyed in the kingdom's Eastern Province.
Second night of strikes exposes Saudi defence gaps
The back-to-back attacks have drawn urgent attention to vulnerabilities in Saudi Arabia's air defence capabilities at a time when the kingdom is intensifying its military campaign against the Houthis. The coalition said Saudi defences intercepted a cruise missile near the capital, but the strike on the airport terminal still caused a fire and resulted in casualties, underscoring the limits of the interception systems.
The Monday morning attack followed Sunday's catastrophic strike, which occurred without any advance warning from Saudi Arabia's threat alert system. That attack killed 12 people, including four Saudis and nationals from Bangladesh, the United States, Jordan, Palestine, Syria, Sudan and Egypt. Hospitals were overwhelmed with casualties, some in critical condition, brought in by ambulance and helicopter.
All flights were diverted from King Khalid International Airport following Sunday's strike, and operations were temporarily suspended. Several airlines cancelled services, with disruptions expected to continue into Monday. The attack on Sunday was described as the third strike on the airport within a single week, with earlier incidents killing four people and causing extensive damage to a parked Saudi commercial aircraft.
Houthis claim responsibility and warn airlines to stay away
Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Saree claimed responsibility for Sunday's attack in a televised address, also asserting the group had struck King Fahd International Airport in Dammam, in Saudi Arabia's oil-producing Eastern Province, along with two facilities belonging to energy giant Saudi Aramco. Saudi authorities confirmed the Dammam strike, with the civil aviation authority stating that "damage assessments and safety inspections of airport facilities are under way." Saudi Aramco did not publicly respond to the claims.
An eyewitness aboard a taxiing aircraft at Dammam airport said that at around 8:30pm local time on Sunday, a projectile struck the tarmac next to several parked aircraft and started a fire. Passengers were returned to the terminal gate and told to evacuate the airport. Flight-tracking data showed significant delays and cancellations at Dammam, the kingdom's third-largest airport.
The Houthis also renewed a direct warning to airlines, airport workers and travellers, urging them to avoid Saudi airports altogether. "We urge everyone to take our warnings seriously, and Saudi Arabia bears responsibility for any failed interceptions," the group stated. Yemen's Houthi-run foreign ministry went further, warning that continued Saudi military action would trigger an escalating response guided by the principle of reciprocity. "Unless the Saudi enemy stops its aggression and interference in Yemen, worse is yet to come, God willing," it said.
This is part of a broader pattern of escalation linked to the wider Red Sea crisis, in which Houthi forces have repeatedly targeted international shipping lanes and regional infrastructure to apply pressure on Saudi Arabia and its allies.
Australia warns citizens, US weighs involvement
Australia's Smartraveller travel advisory urged Australians to reconsider any need to travel to Saudi Arabia, specifically cautioning those planning to fly from King Khalid International Airport to confirm their flights before departing. "If you choose to travel, do not depart for King Khalid International Airport until you have reconfirmed your flight with your airline or travel provider," the advisory stated. The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade said it was not aware of any Australian casualties but confirmed checks were continuing.
Australians have also been warned against travelling to the southern provinces of Asir, Jazan and Najran, as well as any area within 30 kilometres of the Yemen border, due to the deteriorating security situation and ongoing risk of military strikes.
On the international stage, US President Donald Trump signalled Washington could move toward direct military involvement. Speaking to reporters over the weekend, Trump said the United States was considering joining Saudi strikes against the Houthis. "We may. We're going to look at it. We just found out about the recent attack, so we'll make a decision. We move very quickly," he said. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio condemned the airport attacks, saying they "demonstrate a blatant disregard for innocent civilian life."
Despite the airport closure, a long-planned international energy conference in Riyadh proceeded as scheduled on Sunday, even as the surrounding security situation remained volatile. Saudi Arabia has intensified its air campaign in Yemen in recent weeks, reportedly launching 124 strikes in the 24 hours preceding Monday's attack, including against the Houthi-held capital Sanaa and the group's stronghold of Saada. The Houthis, in turn, have shown no sign of curtailing their cross-border strikes as the conflict shows every sign of deepening further.
