Riyadh, Oct 12 (V7N)- A fresh attack on an international airport in Saudi Arabia's capital, Riyadh, has killed one person and injured 11 others, raising further concerns about the security of the kingdom's airports and critical infrastructure. The incident came a day after an earlier attack attributed to Yemen's pro-Iranian Houthi rebels reportedly killed 13 people and injured more than 300.

The Saudi-led coalition in Yemen said an unidentified object struck Terminal 4 of Riyadh International Airport on Sunday (October 11), triggering a fire. Saudi Arabia's Civil Aviation Authority confirmed that one person was killed and 11 others were injured.

The coalition also reported that Saudi air defenses intercepted a cruise missile near King Khalid International Airport. A drone was later detected and destroyed in the kingdom's Eastern Province, while a ballistic missile targeting the city of Khamis Mushait was intercepted.

Early Monday (October 12), an emergency alert was issued in the southern city of Abha. The Saudi Civil Defense Department later announced that the danger had passed.

Questions Raised Over Saudi Air Defenses

Saudi Arabia has been conducting airstrikes against Houthi rebels in Yemen, while the group continues fighting the internationally recognized, Saudi-backed Yemeni government. The recent attacks on Saudi installations have intensified concerns over the country's air defense capabilities.

Footage broadcast on Saudi state television following the earlier Riyadh airport attack showed religious pilgrims waiting at an airport entrance before a bright orange explosion suddenly appeared. People were seen running in panic, while part of the airport's roof appeared to collapse.

The airport was closed following the attack. Reports described the incident as Saudi Arabia's deadliest attack in more than a decade.

Houthis Claim Responsibility for Further Attacks

In a televised address on Sunday, Houthi military spokesman Yahya Sari claimed responsibility for the October 10 attack. He also said the group had targeted Dammam airport in Saudi Arabia's Eastern Province and two facilities belonging to the country's major oil company, Saudi Aramco.

Neither the Saudi government's media office nor Aramco responded to requests for comment.

Saudi Arabia's Civil Aviation Authority confirmed an attack affecting King Fahd International Airport in Dammam on Sunday. It said damage assessments and security inspections of airport facilities were underway.

A witness told Reuters that at around 8:30 pm on Sunday, an object struck the runway near several parked aircraft while a plane was preparing for takeoff. The object caught fire, prompting the aircraft to return to its designated gate. Passengers were then instructed to disembark and leave the airport.

Flight-tracking website FlightRadar24 reported that several flights at Dammam airport were delayed, while others were canceled. The attack created uncertainty over operations at the kingdom's third-largest airport.

Earlier on Sunday, the Houthis issued a warning against using Saudi airports, urging people to take the threat seriously. The group said Saudi Arabia would bear responsibility if it failed to intercept a missile or another attack.

The British Embassy in Saudi Arabia advised British citizens through a post on social media platform X to avoid traveling to the country's airports unless necessary, with exceptions for Jeddah, Dammam and Medina. The US aviation authority also instructed American airlines to exercise caution when operating flights to or over Saudi airspace.

Saudi Military Activity Intensifies in Yemen

Saudi Arabia has increased its military activity in Yemen following the Houthis' reported expansion into strategic areas along the Red Sea coast last month. Riyadh has continued airstrikes against the group while supporting a counteroffensive by Yemeni government forces.

The Houthis claimed that Saudi Arabia had carried out 124 airstrikes in Yemen over the previous 24 hours. In a statement broadcast by Al-Masirah television on Sunday, Yemen's Houthi-controlled Foreign Ministry warned that the situation could deteriorate further if Saudi Arabia did not stop its military operations and interference in Yemen.

US President Donald Trump said on Saturday (October 11) that Washington was considering joining Saudi Arabia's offensive against the Houthis. The conflict is also unfolding amid the wider war involving Iran, which the United States and Israel launched in February, according to the report.

Meanwhile, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said in a Telegram post that he had spoken with his Saudi counterpart. He expressed Tehran's readiness to help advance dialogue between Saudi Arabia and Yemen.

Energy Conference Continues Despite Security Concerns

Despite the deteriorating security situation, the five-day WPC Energy conference began in Riyadh on Sunday as scheduled. Saudi Arabia's Energy Ministry said the event was taking place at a convention center about 10 kilometers from Riyadh airport.

A ministerial meeting of the International Energy Forum was also held on Sunday, although the participating ministers and their countries were not confirmed. Italian Energy Minister Gilberto Pichetto Fratin, who co-hosted the conference, had said on Friday that he would attend the meeting virtually.

German officials were also working to arrange an alternative flight for Economy Minister Katharina Reiche, who was scheduled to return to Berlin from Riyadh on Monday. Germany's Economy Ministry said security concerns had created uncertainty over whether her flight could depart.

Saudi authorities have also shifted schools in the capital to online classes from Sunday through Thursday as a precautionary measure amid the ongoing security concerns.

END/SMA/AJ