One of the three Saudi nationals killed in the recent Houthi missile attacks on Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport has been identified as Captain Hamoud Ali Alkalthami, a pilot for the national carrier Saudia. The Saudi Arabian General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) confirmed that the fatalities occurred during two separate strikes on Thursday, one targeting airport facilities and another hitting a Saudia aircraft.
In response to the escalation, the Saudi-led coalition announced on Friday that it had successfully destroyed three Houthi missile launchers used in the attacks. Major General Turki al-Malki, the coalition's spokesperson, vowed a "firm response" to the targeting of civilians and civilian infrastructure. Despite the initial cancellation of hundreds of flights, GACA reported that airport operations and air traffic in the capital had returned to normal by Friday.
The international community, including the European Union, has strongly condemned the attacks, with EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen calling for an immediate end to the "reckless and violent acts" by Iran-backed groups in the region.
Source: CNBC