Digital Bust. The attack by Houthi rebels on King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, the capital of Saudi Arabia, has increased tension in the entire region. 12 people died in this attack on Saturday, while 309 people were injured. Saudi Arabia's Civil Aviation Authority confirmed the number of casualties on Sunday. The condition of some of the injured is said to be serious. Flight operations at the airport had to be temporarily halted following the attack.
Read:- Panic after the attack on the airport at 'King Khalid Airport' in Riyadh, more than 300 flights cancelled.
The dead include four Saudi nationals and two Bangladeshi nationals. Apart from these, one citizen each from America, Egypt, Jordan, Syria, Palestine and Sudan has also lost his life. The airport has been damaged by the attack and officials are assessing the damage.
Trump indicated military action
Following the attack, US President Donald Trump did not rule out the possibility of taking military action in conjunction with Saudi Arabia against the Houthi rebels. He was asked whether America would support Saudi Arabia in this campaign. On this Trump said that this can happen and America takes fast action. He described the attack as extremely terrible and also praised the capability of Saudi soldiers.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has also condemned the Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia. On the other hand, the Saudi-led coalition fighting against Houthi rebels in Yemen has warned of responding to the attack. This has created a fear of further escalation of the conflict.
Airport closed, hundreds of flights affected
The attack severely affected flight operations to and from Riyadh. According to aviation data, more than 225 flights were canceled within 24 hours on Saturday. Many planes had to be diverted to other airports, while passengers also faced problems.
Several airlines including India's Air India, Air India Express and Indigo temporarily stopped flights to Riyadh due to security reasons. An Air India flight from Delhi to Riyadh had to turn back. Airlines begin review of services prioritizing passenger safety.
Concern increased due to warning from Houthis
This is the fourth Houthi attack on Riyadh Airport in the last 20 days. This attack on Riyadh Airport has happened at a time when the conflict between Saudi Arabia and Yemen's Houthi rebels is intensifying. The Houthis have targeted Saudi Arabia's airports and other important targets in recent days. He also warned international airlines of facing serious consequences if they operate flights in Saudi airspace.
The Saudi-led coalition has blamed Houthi rebels for the attack. However, the situation remains sensitive regarding retaliatory action amid the ongoing military conflict in the area. Now everyone's eyes are on whether America gets directly involved in military operations in support of Saudi Arabia or not. If this happens, Yemen's conflict may take a more widespread form.