Houthi missile attack on Riyadh airport kills 13 as Yemen conflict worsens

Yemen's internationally recognised government, headed by Rashad al-Alimi, launched a major military campaign called 'Operation Dawn of Yemen' early in the week. The operation aims to recapture Sanaa, the capital city, which has been under Houthi control since fighting resumed in July. The Houthis are an Iran-aligned movement that has gained territory in recent months. Government forces reported advances near the strategic Bab al-Mandab Strait, where they recaptured Dhubab Airport and the port city of Mocha. However, Houthi fighters advanced in a different direction, capturing the southern town of Al-Turbah for the first time during the war and blocking the road between Taiz and Aden.

The Houthis launched a series of missile attacks against Saudi Arabia in response. Initial strikes damaged airports in Najran and Jizan, injuring three people. A larger attack on Riyadh's King Khalid International Airport occurred later in the week. On 11 October, a missile hit a terminal building at the airport, killing at least 13 people, including an Indian national, and injuring more than 300 others. The attack forced multiple airlines to cancel flights.

The scale of the Riyadh airport attack prompted significant developments. US President Donald Trump announced that Washington would consider joining Saudi military operations against the Houthis, representing a potential escalation of American involvement in Yemen. In response, Saudi Arabia conducted an airstrike on Sanaa that killed a child and wounded seven people. Meanwhile, the United Nations reported that more than 200,000 people have been displaced within Yemen since fighting resumed in July, highlighting the severe humanitarian consequences of the ongoing conflict.