Iran-backed Houthis target Saudi airports for third straight day as they warn of long conflict

The leader of the Iran-backed Houthis in Yemen has warned Saudi Arabia to prepare for a long conflict, as his group intensified its attacks on the kingdom — targeting its airports and military facilities for a third consecutive day.

The group said Thursday it had carried out a new wave of attacks targeting two civilian airports — King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh and Najran Airport near the southern Saudi-Yemen border — and the Royal Saudi Air Force’s King Khalid Air Base.

It claimed the attacks involved both cruise and ballistic missiles and had caused damage and disrupted air traffic.

Images posted on X and verified by CNN showed smoke rising over Terminal 4 at King Khalid International Airport as well as what appeared to be a damaged Saudi aircraft, while the Associated Press cited a witness as saying several explosions had been heard in Riyadh, including at the airport.

While Saudi authorities have not directly commented on whether the airports were attacked, they said Thursday they had intercepted and destroyed two ballistic missiles fired toward Riyadh and that falling debris had damaged a kindergarten and a medical clinic.

The US Mission in Saudi Arabia said it was “aware” of attacks targeting the airport in Riyadh and warned American citizens to exercise heightened vigilance, noting previous attacks on civilian airports in the country and cautioning the conflict “has the potential to escalate.”

It warned of possible flight cancellations, airspace closures and travel disruptions, and said US government employees now required “special authorization” to use the airport and remained barred from traveling within 20 miles of the Yemen border.

The news comes after three people were killed and 36 wounded over the past two days in Houthi attacks on King Khalid International Airport and Abha International Airport, near the Yemen border.