Moroccan woman killed in Houthi attack on Saudi Arabia airport

Thursday 08 - 16:20

A Moroccan woman was among three people killed in a series of attacks targeting two major airports in Saudi Arabia, according to Saudi authorities, as renewed Houthi attacks deepen security concerns across the region.

The attacks struck Abha International Airport and King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh on October 6 and 7, leaving 36 people injured in addition to the three fatalities. Saudi Arabia’s General Authority of Civil Aviation said emergency services and relevant authorities responded immediately to both incidents.

Moroccan and Algerian women killed in Abha

The deadliest of the two incidents occurred at Abha International Airport, where two female residents — one Moroccan and one Algerian — were killed.

Twenty-eight other people were injured in the attack. Those affected included Saudi citizens as well as foreign residents from Bangladesh and the Philippines. The injuries ranged from minor to serious, according to the Saudi civil aviation authority.

The attack also caused material damage at the airport, adding pressure on authorities responsible for maintaining the safety of civilian aviation infrastructure.

The second strike targeted King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, where a Sudanese resident was killed and eight people were injured. Five Saudi citizens and three foreign residents — two Egyptians and one Pakistani — were among those hurt.

Airports become targets amid renewed escalation

The incidents come as fighting involving the Houthis in Yemen has intensified, with attacks extending beyond the country's borders and threatening civilian infrastructure in Saudi Arabia.

The Houthis, who control large parts of Yemen, have claimed responsibility for attacks against Saudi targets. The latest strikes have added to concerns over the vulnerability of airports and other civilian facilities as the conflict enters another period of heightened regional tension. Reuters reported that the attacks were followed by Saudi-led coalition strikes against Houthi military positions in Yemen.

The attacks also come against a backdrop of growing military activity around the Red Sea and the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, a strategically important maritime corridor connecting the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden. Recent fighting in Yemen has raised wider concerns about regional security and international transport routes.

Mohammed VI expresses solidarity with Saudi Arabia

The latest casualties add a human dimension to a conflict that has repeatedly affected foreign nationals living and working in the region.

Morocco has previously expressed strong solidarity with Saudi Arabia following Houthi attacks. In messages addressed to Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, King Mohammed VI condemned attacks against civilian and economic facilities, vital infrastructure and populated areas. He also denounced attempts to target the holy cities of Makkah and Madinah.

For Morocco, the death of a Moroccan resident in Abha brings the consequences of the renewed regional escalation into sharper focus. The incident highlights the risks faced not only by Saudi citizens but also by the large international communities living and working across the kingdom.

As Saudi authorities assess the damage and reinforce security measures around civilian aviation facilities, the attacks underline the widening human cost of the renewed confrontation between Saudi Arabia and the Houthis.