Houthi militants launched cruise missiles at Riyadh's King Khalid International Airport on Thursday, destroying a Saudia Airlines aircraft. The attack resulted in the death of Captain Hamoud Ali Alkalthami and caused significant flight disruptions across the kingdom.
The fatal strike on Captain Hamoud Ali Alkalthami’s Saudia Airlines jet
The destruction of a commercial aircraft at King Khalid International Airport marks a violent escalation in the conflict between Yemen's Houthi rebels and Saudi Arabia. According to the report, the strike involved two cruise missiles that heavily damaged a Saudia Airlines passenger jet parked at the terminal.. The impact ignited a massive blaze, sending a thick column of black smoke rising above the airport, which authorities have since extinguished.
While initial reports suggested the aircraft might have been empty, Saudia Airlines has confirmed the death of Captain Hamoud Ali Alkalthami. Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree claimed responsibility for the operation, which also included balllistic misile strikes against Najran airport and the Khamis Mushair airbase. The group has issued further warnings to workers, suggesting that energy plants may be the next targets in their campaign to disrupt Saudi infrastructure.
Lufthansa and Air India suspensions amid Riyadh's flight cancellations
The missile strikes have triggered immediate chaos within the regional aviation industry. As reported by the source, major international carriers including Lufthansa and Air India have suspended all flights to Riyadh following the attacks . This disruption comes at a sensitive time, as the city is scheduled to host the WPC Energy Congress, a major gathering of global energy policymakers.
Data from aviation firm Cirium indicates that nearly half of all departures from Riyadh's airport were cancelled by mid-afternoon on Thursday. Flight tracking services like FlightRadar24 also noted widespread delays at King Khalid International Airport . the instability has even reached the city's business hubs, with several multinational firms based in the King Abdullah Financial District (KAFD) instructing employees to work from home after hearing loud explosions.
The strategic struggle for control of the Bab el-Mandeb Strait
This latest escalation is part of a broader resurgence of the Yemeni civil war, which had seen a period of relative calm following a 2022 ceasefire. The Houthis have recently made significant territorial gains , including seizing stretches of the Red Sea coast and surrounding the city of Taiz. Their primary strategic objective appears to be the control of the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, a vital maritime chokepoint.
By targeting Saudi airports and threatening shipping lanes,the Houthis are attempting to leverage their position near the Red Sea to pressure the Saudi-led military coalition. The conflict has already resulted in a massive humanitarian crisis, with an estimated 200,000 people displaced since the fighting reignited. In response, Saudi Arabia has sought logistical and defensive support from allies such as Pakistan and Turkey to secure its borders and maritime interests.
Discrepancies regarding the aircraft's occupancy and Syrian military aid
Several critical details regarding the Thursday attacks remain unverified. There is a notable contradiction between early reports claiming the Saudia Airlines plane was empty and the subsequent confirmation of Captain Alkalthami's death. Furthermore, while Saudi officials noted that debris from an intercepted missile hit a kindergarten and medical complex, the full extent of civilian casualties in those specific strikes has not been fully detailed.
Geopolitical uncertainty also surrounds the potential for new international combatants. While some defense officials suggested that Syria is weighing options for military support—ranging from defensive aid to offensive deployment—Syrian presidential advisers have since denied any plans to send troops to assist the Saudis. It remains unclear whether Syria's involvement will manifest as material support or remain purely diplomatic.
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