Plane billows smoke at Riyadh airport as Houthis escalate attacks
USO•The Houthis said they struck Riyadh airport, where witnesses saw smoke rising from a plane; Saudi officials said debris from an intercepted missile damaged a kindergarten and medical complex. Three people were killed in strikes on Riyadh and Abha airports this week.
1. Smoke at airport
Witnesses saw smoke billowing from a stationary aircraft at Riyadh airport on Thursday. People briefed on the matter said the plane was believed to be empty and the fire had been put out; the cause of the smoke was unclear, and Saudi authorities had not immediately confirmed the Houthi claim of a missile attack.
2. Missile strikes reported
The Saudi-led coalition said it had destroyed two ballistic missiles launched toward Riyadh and another toward Khamis Mushayt. Saudi authorities said debris from an intercepted missile hit a kindergarten and medical clinic complex in Riyadh. Saudi officials said three people had been killed this week in strikes on Riyadh and Abha airports.
3. Wider conflict
The Houthis warned workers to stay away from Saudi energy facilities, saying they would be targeted. Syria was considering defensive aid or an offensive deployment to assist Saudi Arabia, while Turkey said it was sending mainly defensive and technical support. Fighting has resumed in Yemen, displacing 200,000 people since the conflict restarted.
