US President Donald Trump on Monday criticised Yemen’s Houthi rebels over their escalating attacks on Saudi Arabia, saying the group was “misbehaving very badly”.
It also provided 998 as the emergency helpline. On October 10, 13 people, including an Indian national, were killed and hundreds injured in an attack on King Khalid International Airport. Saudi Arabia’s General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) had initially reported 12 fatalities and 309 injuries in a statement issued on October 11. A series of attacks also targeted King Khalid International Airport and Abha International Airport on October 6 and 7, leaving three people dead and 36 injured, according to GACA.
In a post on X, coalition spokesperson Turki Al-Maliki said: “Interception and destruction of two ballistic missiles launched by the terrorist Houthi militia towards Khamis Mushait. The Indian Embassy in Riyadh later confirmed the death of an Indian national who had been injured in the attack.
Asked whether the Houthi attacks had intensified in connection with the US midterm elections, Trump said, “I don’t know how it affects the election. Trump had earlier said Washington would consider joining Saudi Arabia in military operations against the Houthis following the latest attack on King Khalid International Airport. In a subsequent post on X, it said the danger had passed and asked residents to continue following safety instructions and avoid gathering or filming.
I don’t take that into account. Airport operations were temporarily suspended as authorities assessed the damage and conducted safety inspections in coordination with relevant agencies.
Saudi Arabia’s Civil Defence agency had earlier urged residents of Khamis Mushait Governorate to remain vigilant over a potential threat. Meanwhile, the Saudi-led coalition on Tuesday said it had intercepted and destroyed two ballistic missiles launched by the Houthi militia towards the Khamis Mushait airbase in Saudi Arabia.