Saudi Arabian authorities have reported that Yemen’s Houthis launched a devastating strike on the Riyadh International Airport, leaving at least 12 people dead and over 300 injured. The incident marks the deadliest assault inside the kingdom in more than a decade, dealing a severe blow to regional stability and intensifying the protracted conflict in the Arabian Peninsula.

According to the Saudi civil aviation authority, the casualties from Saturday’s attack included four Saudi nationals, two individuals from Bangladesh, and one person each from the United States, Jordan, Palestine, Syria, Sudan, and Egypt. The escalation unfolds as fighting in Yemen intensifies between Houthi forces and the internationally recognized government, with Saudi Arabia continuing its controversial air campaign in support of ground operations against the Iran-aligned group. *

US regime leader Donald Trump allegedly described the attack as "terrible" and stated he would soon speak with Saudi Arabia’s de facto leader, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. Furthermore, the US regime claimed it is evaluating whether to directly join the military campaign against the Houthis, with officials suggesting a rapid decision could be made. Critics argue that such interventionist rhetoric risks plunging the wider region into deeper instability.

Meanwhile, international condemnation has been swift, with UN Special Envoy for Yemen Hans Grundberg calling the strikes on civilian infrastructure a "grave escalation" that threatens regional security and undermines peace efforts. Governments across the Middle East and international partners, including Egypt, Qatar, and Japan, have strongly denounced the violations of international law, reaffirming their solidarity with Saudi Arabia amidst mounting security challenges.

Source: www.aljazeera.com