From Makkah to Riyadh, Houthis turn their weapons on pilgrims

RIYADH — The Houthi militia’s attack on King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh has brought its campaign of violence against Saudi Arabia to a new and dangerous level, threatening Umrah pilgrims, families and civilian travelers passing through one of the Kingdom’s busiest international gateways.The attack has renewed attention on the militia’s previous assaults targeting Makkah and Madinah, exposing a pattern of aggression that has placed Islam’s holiest cities, their visitors and the civilian infrastructure serving them at risk.Footage circulated following the attack showed Umrah pilgrims preparing to board aircraft at the airport, underscoring the danger posed to innocent travelers whose journeys are dedicated to worship and visits to the Two Holy Mosques.For millions of Muslims around the world, Saudi Arabia’s airports are more than transportation hubs. They are gateways to Makkah and Madinah, receiving pilgrims and visitors who travel to the Kingdom in pursuit of spiritual fulfillment.Targeting these facilities therefore carries consequences far beyond disrupting air traffic. It endangers the lives of pilgrims and civilians, threatens the safety of families and undermines the security of those traveling to perform religious rituals.The attack on Riyadh’s airport also raises serious questions about the Houthis’ claims to religious legitimacy, particularly in light of their history of launching attacks toward Makkah and Madinah.The militia’s willingness to strike civilian aviation infrastructure used by worshippers stands in stark contrast to its professed commitment to Islamic principles, which place the protection of innocent lives and the sanctity of holy places among their highest obligations.The latest assault comes as Houthi forces face mounting military pressure in Yemen, raising concerns that attacks on civilian facilities in Saudi Arabia are being used to project strength amid battlefield setbacks.Rather than confronting military forces, the militia has continued to threaten airports and other civilian facilities, exposing passengers, including women, children and pilgrims, to potentially deadly consequences.Such attacks also represent a serious challenge to international humanitarian law, which prohibits deliberate attacks on civilians and civilian objects.Saudi Arabia, as the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, carries a historic responsibility to protect pilgrims and visitors from across the Islamic world. The Kingdom has invested extensively in aviation infrastructure, transportation networks and security systems to ensure that worshippers can travel safely and perform their religious obligations in peace.The targeting of airports serving these travelers directly challenges that mission, placing the safety of pilgrims at the center of a broader threat to regional security.The latest attack reinforces the need to protect civilian aviation and hold those responsible for attacks on civilian infrastructure accountable.For Saudi Arabia, safeguarding the Two Holy Mosques and their visitors remains an unwavering national responsibility. The Kingdom’s commitment to protecting pilgrims, securing its airports and defending its sovereignty stands firm in the face of continued Houthi aggression.The images of pilgrims caught in the shadow of the Riyadh airport attack offer a stark reminder of what is at stake: the lives of innocent Muslims whose journeys of faith should never become targets of violence.