Houthi Rebels Claim Missile Attack on Riyadh Airport as Iran Offers Mediation

Riyadh, October 13 (Daily Kiran) : Houthi rebels have claimed responsibility for a missile attack on King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. This incident marks a continuation of escalating tensions in the region. In a statement released on Monday evening, Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree stated that the group targeted the airport with a ballistic missile, asserting that it successfully hit its mark. Additionally, they reported a drone strike on King Khalid Air Base located in Khamis Mushait, southwest of Saudi Arabia.

In response, the Saudi-led military coalition announced that its forces intercepted and destroyed the ballistic missile aimed at Riyadh. Amid these developments, residents reported hearing explosions, and alerts were sent via mobile apps to warn the public.

The frequency of Houthi attacks on Riyadh Airport has increased recently. The Saudi Civil Aviation Authority reported that a missile strike on Sunday resulted in the death of a Pakistani national and injured 11 others. Following this, flight operations at the airport have been suspended. Just a day prior, another Houthi attack had claimed 12 lives and left 309 people injured.

On the other hand, the Houthi group alleged that Saudi Arabia conducted 119 airstrikes on areas under their control within the last 24 hours. According to Houthi-operated Al-Masirah TV, at least nine individuals were killed and seven others wounded in airstrikes in the Al-Jawf province near the Saudi border.

Yemeni military spokesman Majid Al-Nujaili stated that government forces have launched 1,879 attacks on Houthi military positions in recent hours, claiming that approximately 950 Houthi fighters were either killed or incapacitated.

This rising tension has sparked concerns both regionally and internationally. During a weekly press conference on Monday, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Ismail Baghaei reiterated Iran’s readiness to facilitate dialogue between the conflicting parties. His comments followed a recent phone conversation between Iranian Foreign Minister Seyyed Abbas Araghchi and Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud, where Iran expressed its willingness to assist in initiating talks between Saudi Arabia and the Houthis.