RIYADH, 09 Oct. - (ANA) - A plane was hit by a projectile during a Houthi missile attack in Saudi Arabia on Thursday as images showed the severe damage. The Saudia Airlines aircraft caught fire while parked at a terminal at Riyadh's King Khalid International Airport amid a fresh wave of attacks on the kingdom. Three people briefed on the incident told Reuters that shrapnel from an interception or another projectile had struck the commercial aircraft, leaving it heavily damaged. No passengers were believed to have been on board at the time, although the sources could not rule out injuries linked to the incident. Footage shows thick black smoke and flames rising from the airport following the incident.

 

The Iran-backed rebels claimed responsibility for the attack on Riyadh airport, saying a ballistic missile had caused damage, although the group did not provide evidence for its claim

 

The group also warned workers to stay away from Saudi energy plants, saying they would be targeted.

 

A witness told the Associated Press that several explosions were heard across the Saudi capital, including a large blast at the international airport.

 

Hundreds of flights to and from Riyadh were cancelled in the aftermath, according to flight-tracking site FlightAware.

 

The latest violence came a day after Saudi Arabia said one person had been killed in an attack on Riyadh airport, while two others were killed in a separate strike on Abha airport in the southwest.

 

Reuters reported that the Saudi-led coalition fighting in Yemen said it had destroyed two ballistic missiles launched by the Houthis towards Riyadh, as well as another heading towards Khamis Mushait, home to a major airbase.

 

Lufthansa and Air India also suspended flights to Riyadh following the Houthi attacks.

 

Saudi officials separately said debris from an intercepted missile struck a kindergarten and a medical complex in Riyadh.

 

The attacks also caused widespread disruption across the capital, with several multinational companies in Riyadh's King Abdullah Financial District telling staff to work from home after loud booms were heard on Thursday morning.

 

Some schools told parents they had been ordered to shelter in place, although authorities did not issue a public alert.

 

The Houthis have also threatened Saudi Arabia's energy infrastructure, warning workers to stay away from oil facilities the group considers targets.

 

Almost half of departures from Riyadh airport had been cancelled by 3pm GMT on Thursday, according to data compiled by aviation analytics company Cirium.

 

A further 31 cancellations were expected across Saudi airports on Friday, while Riyadh airport advised passengers to contact their airlines to check the status of their flights before travelling.

 

The escalation comes amid renewed fighting in Yemen, where the Houthis have seized stretches of the Red Sea coast in recent weeks, including territory around the strategically important Bab el-Mandeb Strait.

 

Saudi-backed forces launched a counterattack this week and regained some areas around the strait, while the Houthis have also made gains elsewhere in the country.

 

The renewed conflict has displaced 200,000 people.   - (ANA) -

 

AB/ANA/09 October 2026 - - -