“Pilgrims and flames.” Saudi official media publishes footage of the targeting of King Khalid Airport

On Monday night, Saudi media published video clips from surveillance cameras of pilgrims at King Khalid International Airport in the Saudi capital, Riyadh, during the attack launched by the Houthis on the airport, which resulted in 13 deaths. Footage published by the official Saudi Al-Ikhbariya channel showed various video clips of pilgrims who were at King Khalid Airport before the passenger lounge they were in was targeted. Flames appear in one of the clips while a group of people standing in ihram clothing prepare to perform Umrah rituals.

Another clip also showed a group of people sitting in waiting seats in an airport hall, before the attack occurred and the consequences of the destruction became apparent, and they ran in each direction. In another clip, the roof of the place fell while a group of pilgrims were standing.

King Khalid Airport in Riyadh has been subjected to attacks over the past few days, the most recent of which occurred on Sunday afternoon, when the Saudi Civil Aviation Authority said that the attack resulted in the death of one person and the injury of 11 others, in addition to material damage. The authority explained in a statement that "the attack resulted in the death of a resident of Pakistani nationality and the injury of 11 others. They were immediately transferred to the hospital to receive the necessary health care."

Yemen is witnessing battles between the Houthis and the forces of the internationally recognized government in various regions of Yemen. The Houthis also targeted the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, including King Khalid International Airports in Riyadh and King Fahd International Airports in Dammam. The Houthi group said earlier on Sunday that it had carried out, during the past 24 hours, 4 “specific operations” against Saudi sites, most notably King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, warning against using Saudi airspace with the exception of “the airports and airspace of Mecca and Medina.”

Saudi Arabia has already announced that King Khalid Airport was subjected to attacks that resulted in deaths and hundreds of injuries, in addition to targeting King Fahd Airport in Dammam. The Houthis also warned "all international companies, all experts, employees, workers and travelers from all countries of the world against the consequences of operating flights towards Saudi airports, as they are unsafe, except for the airports and airspace of the holy areas in Mecca and Medina."