The strikes followed two attacks Thursday on Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport that killed three Saudi citizens and injured several others, Saudi aviation authorities said. The attacks targeted airport facilities and a parked Saudia aircraft. Saudia confirmed that an employee was killed and an aircraft was damaged with no passengers aboard; the dead included pilot Captain Hamoud Ali al-Kalthami.
Flight disruptions over Riyadh resumed Friday after a brief reopening. Lufthansa suspended Riyadh service through October 16, Air India canceled flights through October 10 and Pakistan International Airlines suspended service Friday. Houthi spokesman Yahya Saree said humanitarian flights to and from Riyadh would require clearance from the group’s Humanitarian Operations Coordination Center in Sanaa.