NRT briefing
Houthis kill 14 at Saudi airport as expert warns of 'rapid targets' amid Middle East war
Based on reporting by Fox News.
The Brief
Iran-backed Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabian airports, including King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh and an airport in Dammam, have killed at least 14 people and injured over 300, according to Fox News. The Houthis claimed responsibility for an earlier attack on the Riyadh airport, while U.S. officials blamed the group for a Saturday strike that killed 13 people.
A Sunday attack killed a Pakistani resident and injured 11 others. An American was among the dead, as confirmed by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who condemned the violence. President Donald Trump said the U.S. "may" become involved in Saudi Arabia's military campaign against the Houthis.
Middle East expert Behnam Ben Taleblu, senior director of the Iran Program at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, told Fox News Digital that "cross-domain escalation by Iran and its proxies will continue to be a primary strategy." He linked the attacks on aviation targets to U.S. sanctions on Iran's airlines.
The Houthis have renewed warnings for airlines and travelers to avoid Saudi airports. The escalation follows a Sept. 23 warning by Mohsen Rezaei, secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, that Iran would prevent neighboring countries' airports from operating if they cooperated with U.S. efforts to restrict Iranian flights.
The extent of Tehran's direct involvement in the attacks has not been independently established. Reports of Russian intelligence and technical assistance to the Houthis have also drawn scrutiny.