The UK government has updated its travel advice for parts of Saudi Arabia after Iranian-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen claimed to have targeted the capital's airport. Some 12 people were killed and over 300 injured after a missile attack on King Khalid International Airport on Saturday afternoon.
Deadliest attack in Gulf since war on Iran
It was the latest of several attacks in the past week on the airport in Riyadh, and marked the deadliest attack in any Gulf Arab country since the start of the war on Iran.
The Houthis' attacks over the past few days have hit the country's critical infrastructure. The kingdom has not faced as serious a threat since the al-Qaeda insurgency of the mid-2000s.
FCDO travel advice update
The UK's Foreign Office (FCDO) now advises against all but essential travel to Saudi Arabia.
The FCDO has also advised against all travel to within 10km of the border with Yemen, and all but essential travel to Aseer province, Riyadh province, Najran province, Jizan province and Taif city and Taif International Airport.
UK military support and US reaction
Prime Minister Andy Burnham agreed last month to give military support to the kingdom in the form of 'defensive' air-to-air refuelling for Saudi jets.
Wes Streeting, the defence secretary, said the UK is already supporting Saudi Arabia with air-to-air refuelling support. He told Sky News on Sunday morning: "What we've seen overnight is a dangerous escalation and I'm afraid an increasing pattern of behaviour from the Houthis that's targeting civilian sites in Saudi Arabia.
"This is completely contemptible action and it's one of the reasons why the UK is providing support to Saudi Arabia in the form of air defences, but also air-to-air refuelling. We want to see an end to this conflict. It cannot be right that the Houthis are attacking civilian targets in this way."
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio strongly condemned the attacks, and confirmed that an American citizen was killed in the strikes.
US President Donald Trump said he is weighing up whether American forces should join Saudi in targeting Houthi rebels.
