The Iran-backed Houthi rebel group in Yemen launched a second consecutive missile strike on Riyadh’s airport, targeting terminal four and injuring several people, following a deadly attack a day earlier that killed at least 13 individuals. The strikes mark the deadliest assault on Saudi soil in decades and have intensified calls within Saudi Arabia for a robust response.
The weekend’s missile attacks hit busy terminals at Riyadh’s airport. The initial strike on Saturday killed four Saudis, an American, two Bangladeshis, and citizens of several other nationalities, while Sunday’s attack caused injuries at a different terminal. These attacks come amid a Saudi-led counteroffensive aimed at reclaiming control of the Bab al-Mandeb Strait, a strategic chokepoint recently seized by the Houthis.
The United States, which had refrained from direct military involvement in Yemen, is reportedly reconsidering its position after the recent escalation, with President Donald Trump condemning the attacks and signaling possible intervention. "We’re going to look at it," Trump said. "We just found out about the recent attack. So we’ll make a decision. We move very quickly." Earlier, Washington had brokered a ceasefire after a month-long bombing campaign, and both sides initially showed reluctance to resume hostilities.
The UK Foreign Office issued advice on Thursday urging British citizens to avoid travel to Riyadh following an attack on a passenger aircraft that resulted in multiple fatalities, including the pilot. The strike has raised security concerns ahead of Saudi Arabia’s high-profile “Davos in the Desert” economic conference, scheduled to host prominent global financiers and senior officials from the United States and Britain.
Houthi military spokesman Yahya al-Saree reiterated on Telegram the group’s warning against using Saudi airports and airspace, exempting only the Muslim holy cities of Mecca and Medina. The Houthis accuse Saudi Arabia of hundreds of airstrikes in recent days, including an attack on Sanaa’s airport, which they control. Meanwhile, ground fighting between the Houthis and Saudi-backed Yemeni government forces has intensified, though efforts to retake Bab al-Mandeb have yielded limited progress.
The Bab al-Mandeb Strait has gained strategic significance following Iranian threats to the Strait of Hormuz. Saudi Arabia has rerouted significant oil exports through the Red Sea port of Yanbu, which, together with key pipelines and Saudi tankers, has become a target for the Houthis and allied Iraqi militias.
The Saudi-led offensive, intended to push the Houthis back and reassert Saudi deterrence after a seven-year conflict largely paused by a 2022 ceasefire, has so far backfired. Experts warn that the Houthis may strengthen demands if they continue gaining ground, while analysts suggest Saudi Arabia faces intense domestic and international pressure to respond decisively. Aziz Alghaslan, a political scientist, predicted a period of escalation, especially if the US resumes strikes targeting Iran, a main supporter of the Houthis.
The ceasefire broke down earlier this year following Saudi airstrikes on Sanaa’s airport runway intended to prevent an Iranian plane landing. The Houthis retaliated by striking Saudi vessels and declaring a “maritime blockade.”
Iran has encouraged the Houthis to close Bab al-Mandeb to pressure the US and Israel amid broader regional tensions. However, the Houthis have largely avoided targeting US or British shipping, after Britain announced logistical support for Saudi air operations.
Saudi Arabia has sought military backing from Pakistan, Turkey—which signed a defense pact with Saudi Arabia earlier this year—and Syria, which has reportedly deployed drone operators to government-held areas in Yemen’s Aden. The United States has also contributed military and intelligence personnel to assist Saudi forces.
Despite these efforts and the reported deaths or capture of hundreds of Houthis in recent fighting, the group remains entrenched at Bab al-Mandeb and in the city of Mocha, complicating Saudi-led attempts to regain full control over the vital trade routes.