CCTV Footage Shows Panic After Riyadh Airport Strike
CCTV footage released by Saudi state television has captured the moment travellers fled in panic after a missile struck King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The attack damaged parts of the terminal and triggered fresh security concerns as regional tensions escalated.
The footage, compiled from surveillance cameras across different areas of the airport, shows travellers waiting to board flights moments before a bright orange flash erupts. Passengers can then be seen scrambling for safety, while sections of the terminal roof appear to cave in following the blast.
The attack disrupted airport operations and put travellers, including pilgrims heading towards Islam’s two holiest cities, at risk. Among those killed was a man from Hyderabad who was travelling with his family to Medina. The strike reportedly killed at least 13 people and injured more than 380 others.
Houthis Claim Responsibility for Attacks on Saudi Targets
Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi rebels claimed responsibility for the attack. The group’s military spokesperson, Yahya Saree, said the rebels had also targeted Dammam airport in Saudi Arabia’s Eastern Province, along with two facilities belonging to Saudi oil giant Saudi Aramco.
The violence continued on Sunday, when another attack targeted Riyadh airport. Saudi authorities reported one death and 11 injuries after an unidentified projectile struck Terminal 4, causing a fire. The incident was reported by Saudi-led coalition forces in Yemen and the country’s civil aviation authority.
Saudi air defences also intercepted a drone over the Eastern Province and a ballistic missile fired towards Khamis Mushait. Emergency alerts were issued in Abha early Monday, although the Saudi Civil Defense later said the danger had passed.
The latest incidents brought the reported death toll from strikes on Riyadh airport to 18 for the week, highlighting the growing threat to civilian infrastructure and air travel in the kingdom.
Travel Warnings Issued as Security Concerns Grow
The Houthis had previously warned against the use of Saudi airports, urging people to take their warnings seriously. The group also held Saudi Arabia responsible for any failure to intercept incoming attacks.
As the security situation deteriorated, Britain’s embassy in Saudi Arabia advised its citizens to avoid all but essential travel to Jeddah, Dammam and airports across the kingdom, with Medina airport excluded from the advisory. US aviation authorities separately urged American airlines to exercise caution when flying to or over Saudi Arabia.
Saudi authorities also announced that in-person classes at schools in Riyadh would move to remote learning from Sunday through Thursday as a precautionary measure.
Saudi-Houthi Conflict Raises Fears of Further Escalation
The attacks come amid an intensifying military confrontation between Saudi Arabia and the Houthis. Saudi Arabia has stepped up its involvement in Yemen, launching strikes against the rebels and supporting a government counteroffensive after the Houthis seized strategic territory along the Red Sea coast last month.
The Houthis claimed that Saudi Arabia had conducted 124 air strikes in Yemen during the preceding 24 hours. The group’s foreign ministry warned that further escalation could follow unless Riyadh stopped its military action and interference in Yemen.
US President Donald Trump said on Saturday that Washington was considering joining Saudi strikes against the Houthis. The latest developments have also unfolded against the backdrop of the wider conflict involving Iran, which the United States and Israel launched in February.
With attacks affecting airports, civilian facilities and critical infrastructure, the situation has raised concerns over further regional escalation and the safety of travellers across Saudi Arabia.
