Houthi strikes kill Saudi pilot at King Khalid airport

Three Saudi nationals, including a pilot, were killed in attacks on King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh on Thursday, the Saudi Arabian General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) said in a statement posted on X Friday. The authority confirmed that two separate incidents targeted the capital's aviation infrastructure, with the first aimed at airport facilities and the second directed at an aircraft belonging to the Saudi carrier Saudia.

Saudia identified the deceased pilot as Captain Hamoud Ali Alkalthami in a separate statement released Friday. Yemen's Houthi militants, a group backed by Iran, claimed responsibility for the strikes. The Saudi-led coalition fighting the Houthis responded on Friday by vowing a "firm" reaction to the recent attacks, while confirming the destruction of three missile launchers used by the group. Major General Turki al-Malki, the coalition's spokesperson, stated that Houthi attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure would be met with that firm response.

The disruptions extended beyond the immediate physical damage to the airport. According to data from Cirium, hundreds of flights out of Saudi Arabia were cancelled on Thursday. By Thursday evening, 31 flights scheduled to depart the following day had also been cancelled. However, GACA reported on Friday that airport operations and air traffic had returned to normal.

These strikes represent the latest escalation in a broader campaign by the Houthis against Riyadh. Last month, smoke was observed near the city's main airport after the group claimed to have targeted "sensitive" sites. The conflict has intensified in recent weeks amid the wider U.S.-Iran war, with Saudi Arabia continuing to support Yemen's internationally recognized government.

Geopolitical efforts to counter the Houthi threat are also expanding. On Monday, Turkey and Pakistan agreed to help Saudi Arabia implement "deterrence measures" and deploy forces to support Yemen's counterattacks, following Yemeni forces' reclamation of a key Red Sea port city from the rebels. Additionally, Reuters reported Thursday that France and Saudi Arabia were exploring ways for the French military to assist in protecting the Yanbu oil terminal on Saudi Arabia's Red Sea coast.

In Washington, President Donald Trump stated on Thursday that the U.S. would not launch attacks on Iran until after the American midterm elections, scheduled for Nov. 3. Trump also described talks between Washington and Tehran as "productive discussions." Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said via Tasnim news agency that Tehran was reviewing a U.S. proposal and would respond in the next few days.

Markets reacted to these diplomatic signals and military developments. Jim Reid of Deutsche Bank noted in a Friday morning research note that while both sides acknowledged ongoing talks, which eased some pressure on oil prices into the close, negative headlines still dominated investor sentiment regarding potential disruption into next year. Following Trump's comments, oil prices fell on Thursday, with futures extending their decline into Friday morning. Front-month Brent crude oil futures were last seen down 1.3% at $102.94 a barrel, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate futures were last seen down 1% at $90.51 per barrel.