Missile Strikes Riyadh Airport Terminal, Wounding Many Amid Escalating Conflict

The airport in Saudi Arabia's capital, Riyadh, was attacked again Saturday, with a missile striking a complex housing terminals 3 and 4 for domestic flights. Many people were wounded in the latest assault, which led to the airport's evacuation and a halt in air traffic operations. Two regional officials, speaking anonymously due to not being authorized to speak to the media, confirmed the attack, with ambulances seen rushing to the site.

The Iran-backed Houthi rebels in neighboring Yemen have claimed responsibility for this week's attacks, which included the King Khalid International Airport, other Saudi airports, military facilities, and oil infrastructure. This surge in assaults comes days after three Saudi citizens, including a pilot, were killed, and follows a major military offensive launched by a Saudi-led coalition against the Houthis. President Donald Trump indicated he was evaluating whether the United States should join Saudi strikes, stating, "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."

Saudi civil aviation authorities confirmed operations at the airport had been suspended, with damage and the number of wounded being assessed. The airport had a heavy police presence, all entrances were blocked, and lights around the complex were dimmed. Flightradar24 tracker reported flights being diverted elsewhere, while countries including the United States, Britain, Germany, Australia, and Canada issued warnings to their citizens to avoid the airport. Airlines such as Air India, FlyDubai, Lufthansa Group, and Pakistan International Airlines have suspended flights to and from Riyadh and other Saudi airports for the next few days, with at least 225 flights at Riyadh airport cancelled over the past 24 hours, according to FlightAware.

The attacks on Saudi Arabia, the world's top oil exporter, have rattled markets and the region. Fighting in Yemen between the Houthis and Saudi-backed Yemeni government forces has escalated, with the Saudi-led coalition providing air support to reverse recent Houthi gains along the Red Sea. These rebel gains have provided better surveillance of shipping on a corridor crucial as an alternative to the Strait of Hormuz. Regional officials told the AP last month that Saudi Arabia is running low on missile interceptors and has requested air defense support from France, Britain, Pakistan, and Egypt, noting the US has also seen its stock dwindle. US assistance has included intelligence sharing, target identification, and planning for the latest offensive.

Amidst these developments, the Saudi and Omani foreign ministers spoke by phone Saturday about the importance of "supporting diplomatic solutions to de-escalate tensions" in the region, with Oman often playing a mediator role. Saudi authorities also warned the public this week against "filming, publishing or sharing information related to countering missiles and drones and their impact sites," citing legal liability. The Houthis, for their part, warned global airlines "for the last time" about operating in Saudi airspace, describing it as a theatre for their military operations. The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) has expanded its guidance on Saudi airspace, highlighting the Houthis' ability to strike deeper into the kingdom, including Riyadh, and a "greater focus on aviation infrastructure," which "create an increased risk of misidentification of civil aircraft." In a separate incident on Thursday, a Saudi national carrier aircraft was damaged on the ground, though no passengers were on board.

What to watch: The US decision on military involvement and diplomatic efforts to de-escalate regional tensions.

Editor's note: The draft effectively synthesizes the source text, including specific details regarding airlines and the nature of the escalation. It is well-organized and thorough.