Plane hit, pilot killed: Riyadh airport attacks by Houthi kill three, damages Saudia aircraft | India News
Three Saudi nationals were killed and several others injured in two attacks on King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh and a Saudia Airlines aircraft on Thursday, Saudi Arabia’s general authority of civil aviation said on Friday.The first attack targeted airport facilities, while the second struck the aircraft, the authority said. It did not identify those responsible, although Iran-backed Houthi rebels in neighbouring Yemen claimed to have targeted the airport, as cited by AP.Saudia Airlines has confirmed that a pilot was killed and an aircraft was damaged in the attack.Operations at King Khalid International Airport have since resumed, with air traffic returning to normal, according to the civil aviation authority.The attacks come amid a heightened security situation in Saudi Arabia following separate strikes on Abha International Airport and King Khalid International Airport on October 6 and 7. Those attacks left three people dead and 36 injured, according to the authority. Two people were killed and 28 injured at Abha airport, while one person was killed and eight injured at King Khalid International Airport.Saudi Civil Defence personnel responded to Thursday’s incident after a missile was launched by the Houthi militia, the Saudi Civil Defence said. Following the attacks on civilian facilities, Saudi-led coalition forces said they had destroyed 82 military targets belonging to the Houthi militia in Yemen.Amid the security situation, the Indian Embassy in Riyadh on Thursday advised Indian nationals in Saudi Arabia to remain vigilant, stay indoors when necessary and follow instructions issued by local authorities through official channels.“In view of the current situation, all Indian nationals in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia are advised to remain alert and vigilant, stay indoors as necessary, and follow the instructions issued by local authorities through official channels. Indian nationals are strongly advised to refrain from circulating or reposting any videos or news related to the ongoing events,” the embassy said in an advisory.The mission said the Embassy of India in Riyadh and the Consulate in Jeddah, including their outsourced services through VFS, continued to operate normally and would issue further updates as required.
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“The Embassy of India, Riyadh and the Consulate in Jeddah and its outsourced services through VFS, are continuing to function normally and will issue updates and advisories as and when necessary. The 24×7 helpline of Pravasi Bharatiya Sahayata Kendra (PBSK) remains available on Toll free No: 8002471234,” it added.India on Thursday condemned the attacks on the two Saudi airports, calling the targeting of civilian infrastructure “completely unacceptable”.In a statement, the Ministry of External Affairs said, “India condemns the attacks over the past few days targeting Abha International Airport and King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, which have resulted in civilian deaths and injuries.”“The targeting of civilian infrastructure is completely unacceptable,” the MEA said, expressing condolences to the families of those killed and wishing those injured a speedy recovery.
