Houthis Claim They Targeted Riyadh Airport, Saudi Naval Base and Airbase

Iran-backed Houthi militants in Yemen said on Sunday that they had launched attacks targeting Riyadh International Airport, an airbase and a naval base in Saudi Arabia, just hours after the airport resumed operations following a two-week closure.

Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Saree said on X that the group's forces had carried out three military operations involving dozens of ballistic missiles. He claimed the strike on Riyadh's airport had “achieved its target” and said the attacks also targeted King Khalid Air Base in Khamis Mushait and a naval base in Jazan.

Flights resumed at Riyadh International Airport on Sunday despite continued Houthi attacks on Saudi territory. The airport's website listed several domestic and international services scheduled for the day, including flights arriving from Dubai, Paris and Cairo.

The resumption of airport operations came after explosions were heard across Riyadh early Sunday. Residents had also received a text message warning of a hostile threat targeting the Saudi capital.

The airport's two-week closure dealt a significant blow to Saudi Arabia. The disruption prompted the postponement of the kingdom's flagship investment conference until 2027, while residents scrambled to find alternative routes to enter and leave the country.

The impact of the conflict also extended to major international events. The Dakar Rally, one of the world's most prestigious motorsport competitions, was among the events cancelled, postponed or relocated amid the fallout from the war.

Saudi officials provided no further details about the latest operations at the airport when contacted by AFP.

Meanwhile, flight-tracking website Flightradar24 showed that a limited number of flights had departed Riyadh, while the vast majority remained cancelled.