Saudi minister vows response after deadly airport attacks

Saudi Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman said Monday that the kingdom would respond seriously after a series of deadly attacks attributed to Yemen’s Houthis, as operations remained suspended at Riyadh’s main airport and air travel was disrupted. The minister spoke at an energy conference in Riyadh, saying the attacks had tested Saudi Arabia’s infrastructure, institutions, people and resilience. He said the country’s response would be “equally serious,” but gave no operational details or timetable for any action. Saudi authorities said a strike on Saturday at King Khalid International Airport killed 13 people and wounded hundreds. The airport’s operations remained suspended on Monday. The civil aviation authority gave a broader toll of 18 dead and 309 wounded from the attacks, while an Indian embassy said an Indian citizen who had been wounded on Saturday died the next day. The Houthis claimed multiple attacks, including one on Riyadh airport, and threatened further strikes against Saudi transit hubs. Saudi authorities also reported that Dammam airport in the east was struck.