Source : INDIA TODAY NEWS
Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport was attacked again on Saturday and evacuated, with air traffic stopped, according to two regional officials. The fresh strike came as Saudi Arabia faced a series of attacks on airports, military sites and oil infrastructure after a Saudi-led coalition launched a major offensive against Iran-backed Houthi rebels in neighbouring Yemen.
The latest attack came two days after three Saudi citizens, including a pilot, were killed, and amid growing disruption to flights in and out of the kingdom. The Saudis have sought support from the US and other allies, while also speaking to Oman about the need to support diplomatic efforts to calm tensions.
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One official said air traffic to Riyadh airport had stopped. The two officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorised to speak to the media. Canada’s embassy said in a statement that there was “ongoing military activity”.
The airport has been targeted multiple times in the week since the coalition began its latest military offensive. The Houthis claimed responsibility for earlier attacks, including one on Wednesday that killed a Sudanese national. There was no immediate Houthi statement on Saturday. Saudi Arabia’s government-run Centre for International Communication, which oversees foreign media in the kingdom, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
A Riyadh resident, Ahmed Sayed, told The Associated Press that he heard at least two loud explosions that rocked the capital. The airport issued a brief alert asking passengers to check their flight status with airlines before heading there. At least 225 flights at the airport had been cancelled over the past 24 hours, according to flight-tracking site FlightAware.
Fighting in Yemen between the Houthis and Saudi-backed government forces has intensified, with the coalition providing air support in an effort to reverse recent Houthi gains along the Red Sea. Their new position has given the rebels better surveillance of shipping on a corridor that is a key alternative to the Strait of Hormuz, where Iran has been attacking ships. Though the Houthis have told AP and others that they are only targeting Saudi shipping as part of a blockade in retaliation for one imposed on them, concerns about wider attacks remain. The Houthis had earlier attacked other ships after the war in Gaza began, calling it solidarity with Palestinians. A US bombing campaign ended that.
Saudi officials have sought support from the US and other allies as attacks have continued. Officials said US help has included intelligence sharing, target identification and planning for the latest offensive. On Friday, as he left the White House, US President Donald Trump was asked about the attacks on Riyadh airport and said, “It’s not good” and “I’m not happy.” There was, however, no immediate sign of US military support in response to the latest attacks.
Saudi and Omani foreign ministers also spoke by phone about the importance of “supporting diplomatic solutions to de-escalate tensions” in the region, the kingdom said on Saturday. Oman, which lies across the Strait of Hormuz from Iran, has at times played the role of a mediator in the region. Meanwhile, Saudi authorities warned the public this week that “filming, publishing or sharing information related to countering missiles and drones and their impact sites exposes you to legal liability.”
Flight disruptions have continued to grow. This week, the Houthis warned global airlines “for the last time” about the possible consequences of operating in Saudi airspace, which they described as a “theatre for their military operations”. Air India, FlyDubai, Lufthansa Group and Pakistan International Airlines are among the carriers that have suspended flights to and from Riyadh and other Saudi airports for the next few days.
The European Union Aviation Safety Agency has also expanded its guidance on Saudi airspace, pointing to the Houthis’ ability to strike targets deeper inside the kingdom, including Riyadh, and a “greater focus on aviation infrastructure”. It said missile and drone attacks, as well as interception efforts, “create an increased risk of misidentification of civil aircraft”. In Thursday’s attack, the Saudi national carrier said one of its aircraft was damaged while on the ground, with no passengers on board.
The latest strike on Riyadh airport has deepened concerns over aviation safety, wider regional tensions and the growing impact of the Yemen conflict on Saudi Arabia, even as the kingdom looks for military support abroad and diplomatic efforts continue.
With PTI Inputs
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SOURCE :- TIMES OF INDIA
