Three people were killed when Houthi missiles struck Saudi Arabia's King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh and the nearby Jeddah airport on Tuesday, officials said.

Three people were killed in the attacks, officials said.

The twin strikes forced the temporary closure of both terminals and suspended dozens of flights, affecting thousands of passengers travelling across the kingdom.

Casualties and airport disruption

Saudi aviation authorities reported that the Riyadh attack damaged a runway and ignited a fire in a cargo depot, while the Jeddah facility suffered a missile impact on its apron area. Emergency crews extinguished the blaze within hours, but the damage required a full safety inspection before operations could resume.

According to the BBC, the three fatalities included two airport workers and a passenger who was caught in the blast zone. The authorities have not released the identities of the victims.

Saudi response and security measures

Saudi Arabia's interior ministry announced that security forces have heightened patrols around all major airports and deployed additional air defence systems along the Red Sea coast. In a televised statement, the ministry warned that any further attacks would be met with "decisive" retaliation.

DW News noted that the Saudi government has called an emergency meeting of its national security council to assess the threat and coordinate a response with coalition partners operating in Yemen.

Wider implications for the Yemen war

The attacks mark a sharp escalation in the conflict that has raged in Yemen since 2015, when the Houthi movement seized the capital Sana'a and forced the internationally recognised government into exile. The rebels have previously targeted Saudi oil facilities and shipping lanes, but strikes on civilian airports are relatively rare.

Analysts cited by the BBC say the new tactics aim to pressure Saudi Arabia by disrupting its transport hub and signalling that the front line is expanding beyond Yemen's borders. The moves also risk drawing greater international condemnation and could prompt renewed calls for a ceasefire.

Houthi fighters loading missiles onto a transport vehicle

Humanitarian organisations warned that the heightened violence could further impede aid deliveries to Yemen's north, where millions remain dependent on cross‑border assistance. The United Nations has urged both sides to return to peace talks in Geneva, scheduled to resume next week.

Saudi Arabia is expected to issue a formal diplomatic protest to the Houthi leadership in the coming days, while the United States, a key ally in the coalition, is monitoring the situation closely.