US President considers escalation
Donald Trump announced that Washington is evaluating the option of joining American forces to Saudi strikes on Houthi positions in Yemen. This decision is being discussed against the backdrop of a fresh attack on King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, where there are reportedly fatalities and injuries. The head of state emphasised that a final decision would be made shortly.
«Можливо. Ми це розглянемо. Ми щойно дізналися про останню атаку. Тож ухвалимо рішення. Ми діємо дуже швидко» (Maybe. We will consider it. We just learned about the latest attack. So we will make a decision. We are moving very fast), Trump noted.
Consequences of missile strike on terminal
According to The Washington Post, a missile hit the complex of Terminals 3 and 4, designated for domestic flights. A regional official reported many injured. Earlier this week, the Houthis took responsibility for previous strikes on this facility, which resulted in the deaths of three Saudi citizens, including a pilot.
On October 10, the airport suffered a new strike. The country's authorities suspended its operations, and planes began being diverted to other airports. The Saudi General Authority of Civil Aviation announced an assessment of the scale of damage and the number of casualties. According to Flightradar24 data, air traffic was diverted. The US, UK, Germany, Australia and Canada called on their citizens to avoid being at Riyadh airport.
Situation in the south of the Arabian Peninsula
Combat operations between the Houthis and government forces, supported by Riyadh, have intensified in Yemen. The Saudi coalition is providing air support to the offensive by government forces, which are attempting to liberate territories along the Red Sea captured by the rebels. Control over these areas has allowed the Houthis to better monitor shipping, as this sea route is an important alternative to the Strait of Hormuz, where Iran is attacking vessels.
Saudi Arabia has faced the problem of dwindling interceptor missile stocks. Last month, it was reported that the kingdom had appealed to France, the UK, Pakistan and Egypt for support in air defence in the region. Officials also reported that US assistance in preparing the latest offensive against the Houthis already included intelligence sharing, target identification and operation planning.
Threats to air connectivity
This week, the Houthis sent a warning to international airlines, which they called the last, stating possible consequences for flights in Saudi airspace. According to FlightAware data, at least 291 flights were cancelled at Riyadh airport in the last 24 hours. Even before the latest strike, airlines Air India, FlyDubai, Lufthansa Group and Pakistan International Airlines suspended flights to Riyadh and other Saudi airports for various periods.
Comments
No comments yet. Be the first!