Saudi authorities have vowed a firm retaliation following a devastating missile strike on King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, which left at least 12 people dead and over 300 wounded. The attack marks the deadliest incident on Saudi soil in more than a decade, forcing the suspension of airport operations and prompting widespread international concern.

The Saudi-led military coalition swiftly blamed the Iran-backed Houthi movement in Yemen for the strike, labeling it a full-fledged war crime. While the Houthis have not formally claimed responsibility for this specific attack, they renewed stringent warnings to international airlines, aviation experts, and travelers against utilizing Saudi airports and airspace, declaring them legitimate operational targets.

The escalation has triggered deep anxiety regarding a wider regional conflict, with the US regime reportedly weighing direct military involvement. The leader of the US regime, Donald Trump, described the attack as terrible and left open the possibility of Washington joining Saudi military operations, despite past administration rollbacks of direct support for the coalition's offensive in Yemen.

International analysts suggest that Riyadh is likely to retaliate forcefully to restore deterrence, as the Houthis continue to challenge both Saudi national security and international maritime and aviation pathways. The collapse of the 2022 UN-brokered ceasefire has unleashed intensive fighting across multiple fronts in Yemen, compounding the humanitarian crisis and drawing global condemnation.

Source: www.aljazeera.com