Fresh projectile hits Riyadh air hub as Houthi strikes target Dammam facility

UPDATE - follow-up to Riyadh airport struck mid-boarding: Footage shows Umrah pilgrims trapped as projectile hits T4: A new explosive projectile struck the fourth gate area of the capital's main aviation hub on Sunday, sparking a blaze just one day after a previous blast at the same facility left 13 people dead and over 300 injured. Coalition forces leading the Saudi-backed campaign reported an unidentified object caused the fresh fire, while aviation officials confirmed an unspecified number of fresh injuries. Later in the day, authorities verified a separate strike hit King Fahd International facility in Dammam within the Eastern Province.

Attacks and Defences

Fighters aligned with the Houthi movement took credit for the Saturday assault on the capital and stated they also targeted the Dammam aviation facility alongside two oil installations belonging to Saudi Aramco. Air defense units intercepted a cruise missile close to the capital's main airfield and later destroyed a drone over the Eastern Province. A traveler aboard a taxiing plane at Dammam told reporters a projectile struck the ground near parked aircraft around 8:30pm local time, prompting the flight to return to the gate so passengers could safely exit.

Official Responses

Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Saree claimed responsibility in a televised broadcast, while his faction warned travellers to stay away from the kingdom's air hubs and blamed Riyadh for failed interception attempts. Government officials in the kingdom and oil company representatives did not respond to requests for comment. Meanwhile, embassies from the United States and Britain issued travel advisories warning citizens against non-essential trips to multiple local air hubs.

Context

These ongoing attacks highlight the intensifying regional fallout from the long-running armed conflict in Yemen, where a coalition led by Riyadh has fought the Houthi movement for years. Major disruptions to civil aviation routes and vital energy infrastructure often follow such escalations, prompting international governments to reassess travel safety for their citizens in the region.