Iran-backed Houthis strike Saudi airports for third day as they warn of an extended battle

Saudi officials have not officially said whether the airports were hit, but said Thursday they intercepted and destroyed two ballistic missiles fired into Riyadh and that falling debris damaged a kindergarten and medical facility.

The US Mission in Saudi Arabia said it was “monitoring” the situation and cautioned American people to exercise increased vigilance, citing recent attacks on civilian airports in the nation and warning the conflict “has the potential to escalate.”

It warned of possible aircraft cancellations, airspace closures and travel difficulties. It said US federal officials now needed ‘special authorisation’ to use the airport and were still forbidden to travel beyond 20 miles of the Yemen border.The Iran-backed leader of Yemen’s Houthi rebels cautioned Saudi Arabia to prepare for a lengthy war as his group ramped up strikes on the kingdom, striking airports and military sites for a third straight day.

The organization announced Thursday it has launched a new series of attacks at two civilian airports – King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh and Najran Airport near the southern Saudi-Yemen border and the Royal Saudi Air Force’s King Khalid Air Base.

It said the attacks included cruise and ballistic missiles and caused damage and interrupted aviation traffic.

Images uploaded on X and verified by CNN showed smoke billowing over Terminal 4 at King Khalid International Airport, as well as what seemed to be a damaged Saudi aircraft. The Associated Press cited a witness as saying numerous explosions were audible across Riyadh, including at the airport.

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