Projectile Ignites Fire at Riyadh Airport as Houthis Strike Dammam in Follow‑up Attack

A projectile struck Terminal 4 of Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport on Sunday, igniting a fire and keeping the facility shut. The hit came a day after a separate attack on the same airport that killed 13 people and wounded over 300, according to Reuters. Saudi‑led coalition forces said the projectile was unidentified, while the Saudi civil aviation authority reported an unspecified number of injuries and said inspections of the damage were ongoing. Later Sunday, officials confirmed a second strike on King Fahd International Airport in Dammam, Eastern Province. Eyewitnesses told Reuters that around 8:30 pm local time a projectile hit the tarmac beside parked aircraft, sparking a blaze; the affected plane returned to its gate and passengers were evacuated. Flight‑tracking data showed multiple delays and cancellations at the third‑largest Saudi airport. The Iran‑aligned Houthi movement claimed responsibility for both attacks and said two Saudi Aramco facilities were also hit. Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Saree reiterated the claim in a televised statement and warned that Saudi Arabia would be blamed for any failure to intercept future strikes. Saudi air defenses intercepted a cruise missile near Riyadh and later destroyed a drone in the Eastern Province. Britain’s embassy advised British nationals to avoid all travel to Jeddah, Dammam and other Saudi airports except Medina, while U.S. aviation authorities urged airlines to exercise caution over Saudi airspace. Despite the incidents, a Saudi ministry said scheduled conferences in Riyadh would proceed. ## Context The attacks are part of the broader Yemen conflict, where the Saudi‑backed Yemeni government battles the Iran‑aligned Houthis. Repeated strikes on civilian infrastructure highlight ongoing gaps in Saudi air‑defence capabilities and raise concerns for international travelers using Saudi hubs.