Middle East on Edge as Attacks on Saudi Arabia Raise Fears of Wider Conflict
Three Saudi Citizens Killed in Airport Attacks
Three Saudi citizens, including a pilot, were killed in attacks targeting Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport and a Saudia aircraft, Saudi aviation authorities said Friday. Yemen’s Houthi rebels claimed responsibility, according to The New York Times, as reported by UPI. Saudi officials have not been quoted here confirming that claim independently.
Damaged Aircraft and Flight Disruptions Reported
Saudia named the pilot as Captain Hamoud Ali Alkalthami. The damaged jet was parked, with no passengers aboard. Hundreds of flights were reportedly cancelled, though operations had returned to normal by Friday. The attack on Riyadh airport, attributed to Yemen’s Houthi rebels, killed three Saudi nationals and two other people.
Explosions in Yemen and Strike in Lebanon
Elsewhere, residents of Sanaa reported heavy explosions as fighting between the Houthis and Saudi-backed government forces resumed, though the origin of some blasts was unclear. Separately, an Israeli drone strike wounded six people in northeast Lebanon; Israel said it targeted a Syrian operative. Reliable reporting has not linked these incidents.
Aviation Safety and Oil Markets Face Uncertainty
For ordinary people, such attacks put workers and travellers at risk. The Houthis have warned airlines to avoid most Saudi airspace, a concern for aviation. Energy markets are also watching U.S.-Iran diplomacy had helped push oil prices lower, but further escalation could change that.
