A projectile struck the King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh on Sunday, occurring just one day after a missile attack at the same site.. The total death toll has climbed to 13 following the death of an Indian citizen, while hundreds of others remain injured.
The 13 victims of the King Khalid International Airport strikes
The missile attacks on Riyadh's King Khalid International Airport have resulted in a diverse list of casualties, reflecting the international nature of the city's transit hub. According to the report, the dead include citizens of Saudi Arabia, Bangladesh, Palestine, the United States, Egypt,Jordan, Syria, and Sudan. Specific victims identified include Azza Ramzy, an Egyptian flight attendant for Flynas, and Buthaina Ahmad Oweida, a Syrian mother of four who had fled the Syrian civil war.
The scale of the Saturday attack was particularly severe, leaving approximately 300 people wounded, some of whom are in critical condition.. Saudi authorities have closed terminals 3 and 4, which primarily handle domestic flights, as the airport remains a target of daily Houthi strikes since Wednesday.
Saudi Arabia's request for air defense from France and Britain
The vulnerability of Saudi airspace has become a critical security gap, as the kingdom is reportedly running low on missile interceptors. Regional officials told the Associated Press that Saudi Arabia has requested air defense support from France, Britain, Pakistan, and Egypt to bolster its defenses. This shortage comes at a time when the U.S. has also seen its own stockplies dwindle due to the ongoing war with Iran.
This military strain is being exploited by the Houthi rebels, who have expanded their targets beyond Riyadh to include King Fahd International Airport in Dammam and various oil and gas facilities in the east. The Houthis have explicitly warned all airlines and travelers that Saudi airports have become a "theater of operations" for their forces, leading several international carriers to suspend flights.
The Bab el-Mandeb Strait and the threat to global oil
The escalation in Yemen is not merely a local conflict but a direct threat to the global energy market and commercial shipping. The Houthi rebels have seized key areas along the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, a vital waterway at the southern end of the Red Sea that serves as a crucial alternative to the Iran-threatened Strait of Hormuz. Any further restriction of oil flow through this strait could trigger a spike in global oil prices.
Despite these threats, Saudi Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman Al Saud maintained a defiant stance during a major international energy conference in Riyadh, stating that the kingdom is "like a phoenix" and will not be broken. The report notes that Saudi Arabia is working on new pipelines to supplement the East-West line, which was previously attacked and closed for several days.
Will Donald Trump commit U.S. forces to the Houthi conflict?
A primary unknown in this escalation is the extent of American military involvement. U.S. President Donald Trump has indicated he is weighing joining the fight against the Houthis and planned to speak with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who has been seeking assistance.. However, the White House has not yet issued a formal comment on the specific nature of any potential intervention.
The risk of U.S. intervention is a double-edged sword; while it could provide the interceptors Riyadh desperately needs, it may prompt the Houthis to completely halt shipping through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait. Furthermore, the source reports that the Houthi-run health ministry claims 91 Yemenis have been killed by the Saudi-led coalition in five weeks, suggesting that any increased U.S. involvement could further inflame regional anger over the Saudi-led blockade of Houthi-run areas.
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