As Riyadh International Airport which had been closed for nearly two weeks was set to reopen today (25), serious tension has emerged following a warning from Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree, who declared the airport unsafe and identified it as a military target.
Coinciding with the scheduled reopening of the airport and the resumption of several flights today, the Houthi military spokesman issued a statement warning all international and domestic airlines, as well as passengers, to avoid using King Khalid Airport. The Houthi militants emphasized that the airport is a target for them and asserted that the Saudi authorities would be held responsible for any untoward incidents that might occur there.
Meanwhile, the Saudi-led coalition announced that its air defense systems had successfully intercepted and destroyed a large ballistic missile and two drones launched by the Iranian-backed Houthi rebels. However, following this attack, authorities have issued warnings to residents of Riyadh via mobile phone messages, alerting them to an ongoing aerial threat and advising them to remain in safe locations.
A recent, lethal attack by the Houthis, targeting the King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, resulted in the deaths of 13 people and left over 300 others injured. This is considered the most severe attack on Saudi Arabia in over a decade.