Saudi authorities announced on Friday that three Saudi nationals died in Houthi missile strikes on Riyadh's King Khalid International Airport the previous day.

The General Authority of Civil Aviation said two attacks occurred on Thursday. The first targeted airport facilities, while the second struck a Saudia Airlines aircraft. Several people of various nationalities suffered injuries ranging from minor to severe, and the strikes caused material damage. One of the victims was Captain Hamoud Ali Alkalthami, a Saudia pilot.

Air traffic at the airport returned to normal by Friday, though numerous flights were canceled or delayed in the immediate aftermath. Airlines including Lufthansa, Air India, and others suspended or canceled services to the Saudi capital.

Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthi group claimed responsibility for the strikes, stating it fired ballistic and cruise missiles at the airport as well as targets in Najran and Khamis Mushait. The Saudi-led coalition reported intercepting several missiles but noted that debris caused additional damage to a kindergarten and medical complex in Riyadh.

The attacks mark an escalation in the Yemen conflict, which has intensified amid broader regional tensions involving Iran. Earlier in the week, Houthi strikes on Saudi airports killed three others, including incidents at Abha International Airport.

Saudi officials condemned the targeting of civilian infrastructure and vowed a firm response. The coalition said it destroyed multiple Houthi missile launch platforms in Yemen.

The violence comes as Riyadh prepares to host international oil industry leaders, with disruptions threatening to affect global energy discussions. Houthis have also issued warnings against flights over Saudi airspace outside holy sites.

This latest round of attacks follows renewed fighting in Yemen, where Saudi-backed forces have conducted offensives against Houthi positions along the Red Sea coast and in Taiz province. The group has encircled government forces in several areas and seeks to disrupt Saudi operations.