Houthi military forces claimed responsibility Saturday for multiple attacks on Saudi Arabia, including a strike on Riyadh airport that the group said killed 12 people. The Iran-backed militant organization said it conducted several targeted operations across the kingdom.
The attack marked the third strike on Riyadh airport within a week. Two previous assaults this week left four people dead and others wounded, and severely damaged an aircraft, according to the Guardian's reporting.
The escalation follows the collapse of a ceasefire between the Houthis and Yemen's Riyadh-backed government in July. Since then, the Iran-aligned group has intensified missile and drone strikes against Saudi airports, oil facilities and tankers.
The United Arab Emirates issued a statement of solidarity with Saudi Arabia on Saturday, expressing support for "all measures aimed at safeguarding the kingdom's security and stability." The UAE's public backing carries particular weight given a major rupture in relations between the two oil-rich neighbors this year. The rift stems from lingering divisions over Yemen, tensions tied to the Iran war, and disputes over oil prices. Those disagreements prompted the UAE to leave OPEC in 2023 after six decades of membership. Saudi Arabia currently leads the organization.
The Houthi attacks are part of a broader campaign of strikes against Saudi infrastructure as the group continues its conflict with the Riyadh-backed Yemeni government following the breakdown of the July truce.