A Pakistani national was among 36 people injured in attacks on two Saudi Arabian airports that killed three people, Saudi authorities said, as fighting between Houthi forces and Saudi-backed Yemeni government troops intensified.
The Saudi General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) said Abha International Airport and King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh were targeted in separate attacks on October 6 and 7. The attacks caused casualties and property damage at both airports.
Two women, one Moroccan and one Algerian, were killed in the attack on Abha airport, where 28 people were injured. At King Khalid International Airport, a Sudanese resident was killed and eight others were wounded.
Among those injured at the Riyadh airport were five Saudi citizens, two Egyptian residents and one Pakistani resident. Their injuries ranged from minor to serious, according to Saudi authorities.
All those injured were taken to hospitals for medical treatment. GACA said it was coordinating with security and other relevant authorities to assess the damage, verify the safety of the affected facilities and ensure the continued security of passengers and airport operations.
Saudi coalition vows retaliation
The Saudi-led coalition fighting the Houthis vowed retaliation following the attacks, saying they would not go unpunished.
The coalition said it had intercepted a ballistic missile north of Riyadh and destroyed a missile launch platform in Houthi-controlled Sanaa that was used to launch attacks towards the Saudi capital.
Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Saree said the group had targeted King Khalid International Airport with missiles and drones. The group also claimed responsibility for other attacks in the region, although not all claims were immediately independently verified.
In Yemen, the internationally recognised government’s Transport Ministry said Houthi forces had attacked Aden International Airport with ballistic missiles and explosive-laden drones.
Fighting intensifies near Bab el-Mandeb
The latest attacks come as fighting has intensified in western Yemen, particularly around the strategic Bab el-Mandeb Strait.
Saudi-backed Yemeni government forces, supported by coalition air strikes, have launched operations to recapture territory held by the Houthis near the strait and around Mocha.
The Bab el-Mandeb is a crucial shipping route linking the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden. Any disruption to the waterway could affect international shipping and energy supplies.
The renewed fighting has also increased displacement in Yemen. The International Organization for Migration said more than 200,000 people had been displaced since the latest round of fighting began.
IOM Director General Amy Pope warned that civilians were being forced to flee their homes as humanitarian needs for food and shelter increased.
#Statement Attacks Target Abha and King Khalid International Airports.
#GACA https://t.co/R4nrRlHRsA
— هيئة الطيران المدني (@ksagaca) October 7, 2026
Yemen conflict raises regional concerns
The escalation has revived a wider conflict in Yemen that began after the Houthis seized control of Sanaa in 2014. Saudi Arabia subsequently led a military coalition to support Yemen’s internationally recognised government.
The Houthis control large parts of northern Yemen and have repeatedly used missiles and drones to target Saudi infrastructure, including airports and energy facilities.
Saudi Arabia and its allies accuse Iran of providing support, training and weapons to the Houthis. The group denies being part of Iran’s regional proxy network, while Tehran also rejects the allegations.
With fighting now concentrated around the Bab el-Mandeb, the latest escalation has raised concerns over the security of a major international shipping route and the potential for the Yemen conflict to further widen across the region.
