Saudi Minister Promises "Serious" Response to Houthi Airport Attacks

Saudi Minister Vows Serious Response

Prince Abdul Aziz bin Salman, Saudi Arabia’s energy minister, said at the WPC Energy Congress that the kingdom would respond to recent Houthi attacks on airports and oil facilities with equal seriousness.

Recent Attacks and Casualties

On Sunday, a Pakistani man was killed when a Houthi missile struck a terminal at King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh. The same day, a Houthi missile hit another terminal, killing 13 people and forcing its closure. Separately, the Houthi-run health ministry reported that a child was killed and six others injured in a Saudi air strike on a home in Sanaa.

Houthi Justification

The Houthis said the attacks were retaliation for what they described as “brutal Saudi aggression” against areas they control in western Yemen. They also claimed a Saudi blockade of ports and airports in their territory and an air strike on Sanaa airport were the triggers.

Context of the Conflict

The Yemen conflict began in 2014 when the Houthis ousted the government from Sanaa. In 2015, a Saudi-led coalition intervened to restore the government’s rule. The Houthis have since launched missile and drone attacks on Saudi airports, oil facilities and tankers in the Red Sea, citing a Saudi blockade and air strikes as provocations.

Unverified Claims

It remains unclear whether the Saudi air strike on the Sanaa home was directly linked to the Houthi-run health ministry’s report, and the exact number of casualties in the Riyadh attacks has not been independently confirmed.