Yemen's Houthi rebels have issued a sweeping warning to international aviation companies, crews, and travelers, urging them to avoid all airports and airspace in Saudi Arabia. The aggressive stance comes merely a day after a devastating missile attack targeted Riyadh's main airport, resulting in the deaths of at least 12 individuals and injuring over 300 others. The strike marks one of the deadliest assaults on any Gulf Arab state amidst the rapidly expanding regional conflict.

Military spokesman Yahya Saree proclaimed via social media that Saudi airspace and airports constitute a direct 'theater of operations' for insurgent forces, asserting that facilities remain vulnerable to further targeting. Although Saree claimed that the holy sites of Mecca and Medina would be spared, he warned that Saudi authorities bore absolute responsibility for failing to intercept the incoming projectiles. Operations at the civilian Riyadh airport remain suspended as flight disruptions extend into the evening.

The dramatic escalation has provoked swift geopolitical reactions, with US President Donald Trump allegedly contemplating whether the US regime might directly participate in retaliatory strikes alongside Riyadh. Meanwhile, European leadership expressed deep dismay over the security breakdown. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen condemned the ongoing destabilization allegedly driven by Iranian proxies, while German officials termed the incident a grave security threat, even as critics warn that external interventions risk entrenching a protracted humanitarian disaster.

Source: www.dw.com