Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu publicly condemned Sunday's attack on Riyadh's King Khalid International Airport that killed 12 people — a rare statement given Israel and Saudi Arabia maintain no formal diplomatic relations. The Saudi-led coalition in Yemen said an "unidentified projectile" targeted Terminal 4 at the airport later the same day.
The strike ignited a fire, which authorities are working to contain. The coalition said its air defenses had brought down a missile close to the airport.
The Houthis launched the projectile that struck the airport, and air defenses intercepted a second missile nearby, according to i24NEWS.
The US Embassy in Riyadh said it was "aware of attacks" and "strongly recommends all US citizens avoid this airport and surrounding areas." The Associated Press reported that Air India, FlyDubai, Lufthansa Group and Pakistan International Airlines were among the carriers that had halted flights to and from Riyadh and other Saudi airports.
Saudi Arabia's General Authority of Civil Aviation counted 12 dead and 309 wounded in the earlier attack. All of the injured are being treated at several hospitals. Eight of the dead were foreign nationals: two Bangladeshis, an American, an Egyptian, a Jordanian, a Syrian, a Palestinian and a Sudanese.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio called the attacks reprehensible and said they showed a "blatant disregard for innocent civilian life." He reaffirmed America's commitment to Saudi Arabia and called for the attacks to stop.
