Three Saudi citizens were killed when Iran‑backed Houthis struck King Khalid International Airport on Thursday, a move that could widen a simmering conflict in the Middle East.

Saudi aviation authorities said the attack, which targeted a commercial aircraft on the tarmac, caused the deaths of three people on board. The incident follows a second strike that hit the airport’s security perimeter earlier in the day.

Three civilians were killed in the attack on King Khalid International Airport.

Both strikes were carried out with missile‑launched drones, according to the Ministry of Interior. The drones struck the airport’s eastern runway and a maintenance vehicle, then detonated near a parked aircraft, causing the casualties.

The airport, which handles around 30 million passengers annually, was closed for several hours as emergency crews cleared debris and secured the runway. Passengers were rerouted to other airports in the region, while flights were delayed for up to two hours.

Riyadh airport runway after attack

Saudi security officials announced that the coalition fighting Yemen’s Houthi rebels would respond "firmly" to the attacks. The statement, issued by the coalition’s spokesperson, called the strikes a "direct violation" of the ceasefire that the coalition had brokered with the Yemeni government last year.

Houthis have previously targeted shipping in the Bab‑Al‑Mandab and the Strait of Hormuz, prompting concern among global oil markets. The latest assault on Riyadh airport marks the first time the group has struck a Saudi domestic airport, raising fears that the conflict could spill over into broader hostilities.

Analysts say the attack signals a shift in Houthi strategy. “It appears they are now willing to target infrastructure that is not directly tied to maritime logistics,” one commentator noted. The move could be intended to pressure Saudi Arabia into negotiating a settlement, or to showcase the Houthis’ growing reach.

Saudi Arabia’s defence ministry has already deployed additional air defences in the eastern province of Al‑Khobar, and the coalition has pledged to increase patrols over the Red Sea. The United States, which has supplied arms to the coalition, has urged restraint but also warned that any further attacks could trigger a wider regional crisis.

With the Middle East already embroiled in a web of proxy wars, the Houthis’ new tactics could bring the conflict to a new level of intensity. The coalition’s vow of a "firm" response is expected to be followed by increased air strikes against Houthi positions in Yemen, although the precise timing remains unclear.

International observers are monitoring the situation closely, as any escalation risks disrupting global oil flows and could force the United Nations to step in for a renewed diplomatic effort.