Saudi Airport Operations Suspended Following Attack on Saturday

Riyadh's King Khalid International Airport has suspended all operations following a fresh attack that left multiple people wounded on Saturday.

The incident comes just two days after an earlier assault by Yemen's Houthi group killed three individuals and damaged a plane at the same airport. Although the Houthis did not announce any new attacks, their missile strikes have become increasingly frequent in recent times.

Health officials have been forced to activate a rare mass call-up of doctors to deal with the "serious emergency situation unfolding at the airport. Foreign embassies are also warning their citizens to avoid the facility due to the escalating security threats.

The Saudi civil aviation authority has confirmed that an attack injured several people at King Khalid International Airport, which is one of the country's busiest airports. Diplomatic sources point to a missile fired by Yemen's Houthi group as the likely culprit behind the latest assault.

Multiple witnesses have come forward describing the chaos and destruction caused by the blast, with one individual reporting an explosion while waiting to board a flight at the domestic terminal. Another witness described seeing people fleeing in panic after being struck by the attack.

Medical staff at hospitals across Riyadh have been put on high alert to treat multiple casualties from Saturday's attack on the city's airport.

According to a medical source who spoke to AFP, emergency room doctors were ordered by the health ministry to report to hospitals around the capital to provide treatment for those injured in the assault.

The source described the situation as a serious emergency" with many of the wounded being transported to various hospitals across Riyadh. The condition of these individuals is reportedly critical, with some requiring urgent medical attention.

Hospital staff are working tirelessly to treat the influx of patients, with at least five people currently receiving care in intensive care units after being brought in from the airport.

Hospital staff are working around the clock to treat the influx of patients, but their efforts have been compounded by the scale and complexity of the injuries sustained.

Several pilgrims who were waiting to board flights to Mecca reported being hit by shattered glass when the airport was attacked, with two doctors confirming that they had treated multiple people for injuries related to the incident.

The timing of the attack is significant, as it occurred around 3:00pm (1200 GMT), a time when many passengers and staff would have been on site preparing for evening flights.

A diplomatic source briefed on the situation stated that the Houthis launched a missile at the airport during this period, highlighting the group's continued willingness to target civilian infrastructure.

The international community is closely following developments in Riyadh, with several countries issuing travel advisories warning their citizens to exercise caution when approaching the airport.

Several Western embassies in Riyadh have taken precautions by restricting travel of their staff to and from the airport over the next week, citing caution as a prudential step.

Near the airport, scenes of passengers waiting on the pavement at a metro station were visible, with individuals carrying luggage attempting to make sense of the disruptions.

In Yemen, Saudi-backed government forces are pushing forward in areas captured last month around the Bab al-Mandab strait, according to military sources.