The World Petroleum Council Energy Congress (WPC Energy Congress) will be held in Riyadh, the capital of Saudi Arabia, this week. Saudi officials announced on Friday (October 9) that Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport was targeted in two separate attacks on Thursday (October 8), resulting in the deaths of 3 Saudi citizens and injuries to multiple individuals of different nationalities. The Houthi rebels in Yemen claimed responsibility for the attacks.
According to a report from The Guardian, the attacks took place late Thursday afternoon. This marks the most severe casualties suffered within Saudi Arabia since the large-scale military offensive launched by Saudi and its allies against the Iranian-backed Houthi rebels over the weekend.
The Saudi General Authority of Civil Aviation stated that the first round of attacks on Thursday afternoon targeted airport facilities, followed by a second round aimed at an airplane. While Saudi officials have not confirmed the identities of the attackers, the Houthi rebels claimed responsibility for using ballistic missiles to strike Riyadh’s airport.
In a statement, the Saudi Arabian Airlines Group (Saudia Group) confirmed that among the casualties was Saudi Airlines Captain Hamoud Ali Alkalthami. The group also mentioned that one of its planes parked on the ground was damaged during the incident, with no passengers on board.
The attacks resulted in flight delays and cancellations, affecting airport operations.
On the other hand, the Saudi-led coalition announced that they have targeted 82 military objectives of the Houthi rebels in four provinces of Yemen.
The Houthi rebels stated that the attack on Saudi Arabia was in retaliation for Saudi support to the Yemeni government forces and vowed to target Saudi energy facilities.
Saudi Arabia, on the other hand, expressed its support for the UN-recognized Yemeni government in launching military offensives.
Tensions between the Yemeni government and the Houthi rebels have escalated recently, putting greater security pressure on Saudi Arabia. The international market is closely monitoring the potential impact of the situation in the Middle East on energy supply.
Riyadh is preparing to host the 25th World Petroleum Council Energy Congress.
The congress, themed “Pathways to an Energy Future for All,” is scheduled from October 11 to 15 and will bring together energy industry leaders, experts, and corporate representatives from around the world. The venue for the congress is the Riyadh International Convention and Exhibition Center.