Houthi Attacks Kill Pilot at Riyadh Airport as Saudi Coalition Vows Response

Three Saudi nationals, including a pilot, were killed in two Houthi attacks on Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport Thursday, deepening regional tensions with potential implications for energy, shipping and crypto-market risk sentiment.

Saudi Arabia’s General Authority of Civil Aviation said one attack targeted airport facilities and the second targeted an aircraft operated by Saudi carrier Saudia. Captain Hamoud Ali Alkalthami was killed in the strikes.

The Iran-backed Houthis claimed responsibility. The Saudi-led coalition fighting the group said it had destroyed three missile launchers and vowed a firm response to attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure.

Hundreds of flights from Saudi Arabia were canceled Thursday. The aviation authority said airport operations and air traffic had returned to normal Friday.

The strikes came during a broader escalation involving the Houthis and Saudi Arabia, which supports Yemen’s internationally recognized government. The attacks add another source of uncertainty for markets already monitoring potential disruptions across the region.