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RIYADH: The Saudi-led coalition in Yemen said an \u201cunidentified projectile\u201d had targeted Riyadh\u2019s international airport on Sunday, causing \u200ca fire, hours after the Iran-backed Houthis warned airlines and travellers to stay away from Saudi airports.<\/strong><\/p>\n The coalition also said Saudi air defences had intercepted a cruise missile in the vicinity of King Khalid International Airport. No further details were immediately available.<\/span><\/p>\n The airport remains closed after an attack there on Saturday killed 12 people and wounded more than \u200b300 others, the deadliest such strike on the kingdom in over a decade, amid an escalation of fighting between the Houthis and Yemeni government forces.<\/span><\/p>\n Despite \u200bthe airport\u2019s temporary closure, the Saudi Energy Ministry said a long-planned international energy conference was still going ahead \u2060in Riyadh on Sunday.<\/span><\/p>\n The Saudi-led coalition in Yemen said Sunday\u2019s projectile had targeted Terminal 4 of the airport, without elaborating.<\/span><\/p>\n Earlier, the Houthis had said in \u200ba statement on X:<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cWe renew our warning to all airlines, experts, employees, workers and travellers against using Saudi airports and airspace, as they are vulnerable \u200bto attack and have become a theatre of operations for our forces, with the exception of the airports in (the holy cities of) Mecca and Medina.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cWe urge everyone to take our warnings seriously, and Saudi Arabia bears responsibility for any failed interceptions.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n Saudi Arabia has stepped up its military involvement in Yemen \u200bin recent weeks, launching strikes against the Houthis and backing a Yemeni government counteroffensive after the group seized strategic territory along the Red Sea \u200bcoast last month.<\/span><\/p>\n Yemen\u2019s Houthi-run foreign ministry said later on Sunday that further Saudi military action in Yemen would trigger a stronger response, adding that its actions would be \u200cguided by \u2060the principle of reciprocity.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cUnless the Saudi enemy stops its aggression and interference in Yemen, worse is yet to come, God willing,\u201d the ministry said in statements carried by Houthi-run Al Masirah television.<\/span><\/p>\n President Donald Trump said on Saturday the United States was considering joining Saudi strikes on the Houthis in the conflict, a spillover from the wider war on Iran that the US and Israel launched in February.<\/span><\/p>\n A five-day WPC Energy Congress is \u200btaking place this week at a convention centre \u200bsome 10 km (6 miles) from the \u2060airport. State TV said more than 70 ministers, 300 company executives and representatives of over 25 international energy organisations had confirmed their attendance.<\/span><\/p>\n It was not immediately clear whether the participants would attend in person or virtually.<\/span><\/p>\n A ministerial meeting of \u200bthe International Energy Forum is also set to go ahead on Sunday, with its plenary session to \u200bbe held behind closed \u2060doors, according to a media advisory. No further details were immediately available.<\/span><\/p>\n Separately, Saudi authorities notified parents that in-person classes would be suspended and shifted to remote learning from Sunday until Thursday for all students, teachers and administrative staff.<\/span><\/p>\n In Saturday\u2019s attack, the third on Riyadh\u2019s airport in a week, the 12 dead included \u20604 Saudis, \u200b2 Bangladeshis and nationals of the United States, Jordan, Palestine, Syria, Sudan and Egypt, Saudi \u200bauthorities said.<\/span><\/p>\n\u2018WORSE IS YET TO COME,\u2019 HOUTHIS WARN<\/span><\/h2>\n
INTERNATIONAL ENERGY CONFERENCE STILL GOING AHEAD<\/span><\/h2>\n