A Saudia Airlines passenger jet caught fire while parked at a terminal at Riyadh's King Khalid International Airport amid a fresh wave of attacks on Saudi Arabia. Thick black smoke was seen pouring from the aircraft, with shrapnel from a missile or interceptor reported to have struck the commercial plane, causing significant damage.
Houthi rebels claim responsibility
Iran-backed Houthi rebels in neighbouring Yemen claimed responsibility for the attack on the airport, saying a ballistic missile caused the damage, but provided no evidence. Saudi authorities had no immediate comment on the claim.
Airlines suspend operations and flights cancelled
Airlines including Lufthansa and Air India have temporarily suspended operations to Saudi Arabia's capital. More than 275 flights were cancelled at King Khalid International Airport, according to flight monitor FlightAware. The cancellations accounted for 40% of scheduled arrivals and 30% of scheduled departures.
