Riyadh skyline taken on October 31, 2023 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Justin Setterfield | Getty Images Sports | Getty Images
Three Saudi nationals, including a pilot, were killed in an attack on Riyadh International Airport by Iranian-backed Houthi militants, Saudi Arabia’s civil aviation authority said Thursday.
The Saudi General Authority for Civil Aviation (GACA) said in a statement posted on XFriday that the deaths resulted from two attacks on the capital’s King Khalid International Airport the previous day.
Officials said the first attack targeted airport facilities and the second attack targeted aircraft from the Saudi aircraft carrier Saudia.
Saudia said in a separate statement on Friday that Captain Hamoud Ali al-Khalsami was killed in the airstrike.
Yemen’s Houthi rebel group, backed by the Iranian government, claimed the attack.
The Saudi-led coalition fighting the Houthis said in a separate statement on Friday that it would respond decisively to the militants’ latest attacks after confirming the destruction of three missile launchers used by the group.
Coalition spokesman Maj. Gen. Turki al-Malki said in a statement that “Houthi attacks against civilians and civilian infrastructure will be met with a decisive response.”
Flights canceled one after another due to Houthi attack
Hundreds of flights departing from Saudi Arabia were canceled on Thursday, Cirium data showed. By Thursday evening, 31 flights scheduled to depart the next day had been canceled, according to the data.
However, GACA announced on Friday that airport operations and air traffic had returned to normal.
Reuters reported on Thursday that France and Saudi Arabia are exploring ways for the French military to help defend the Yanbu oil terminal on Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea coast.
Thursday’s attack was the latest in a series of escalations as the Houthis step up operations in Riyadh.
Last month, smoke was seen near Riyadh’s main airport, with the Houthis claiming to have targeted “sensitive” locations in the city.
Saudi Arabia has supported Yemen’s internationally recognized government in the civil war. Amid the war between the United States and Iran, civil war has flared up again in recent weeks.
Turkey and Pakistan on Monday agreed to help Saudi Arabia implement “deterrence measures” and send troops to support Yemen’s counterattack against the Houthis. It happened after Yemeni forces recaptured a major Red Sea port city from rebels.
US attack on Iran postponed
US President Donald Trump also said on Thursday that the US would not launch an attack on Iran until after the midterm elections. Voters will go to the polls on November 3rd.
The president also said Thursday that the United States was in “productive discussions” with Tehran, according to Reuters.
“On the Iranian side, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has said that he is considering the US proposal and will respond within the next few days,” Deutsche Bank’s Jim Reid said in a note Friday morning, according to Iran’s Tasnim news agency.
“Therefore, both sides acknowledged that talks were taking place, and some of the pressure on oil prices had eased by the close of trading.Yet yesterday, negative headlines still prevailed and it was clear that investors are pricing in a prolonged period of disruption heading into next year.”
Oil prices fell following President Trump’s comments on Thursday, and futures continued to fall into Friday morning.
previous month brent crude oil futures The stock was last seen down 1.3% at $102.94 a barrel. us West Texas Intermediate Futures It was last seen down 1% at $90.51 per barrel.
