Saudi Arabia's energy minister, Prince Abdul Aziz bin Salman, has vowed a "serious response" to the recent deadly attacks on the kingdom's airports and oil and gas facilities by Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi movement. The minister's statement came amid a series of escalating assaults that have raised concerns about regional security.

These attacks represent a significant escalation in the ongoing conflict between Saudi Arabia and the Houthi rebels. The Houthi movement has stated that these actions are in retaliation for "brutal Saudi aggression" against areas they control in western Yemen. The Saudi-led coalition has been providing air support for Yemeni pro-government forces in their battle against the Houthis.

On Sunday, a Pakistani national was killed in an attack on King Khalid International Airport in the capital, Riyadh. This incident followed a missile strike on Saturday that hit another terminal, resulting in 13 fatalities and forcing its closure. The Houthi-run health ministry reported that a child was killed and six others injured in a Saudi air strike on a home in Sanaa, Yemen's capital, on the same day.

The WPC Energy Congress, which opened on Sunday, was held at a convention center approximately 10 kilometers from Riyadh's airport, an area that has been targeted four times in the past week. The attacks underscore the fragility of energy security and have tested the resilience of Saudi infrastructure and institutions.

Last Thursday, two strikes on an airport facility and a grounded aircraft claimed the lives of three Saudis, including a pilot for the national airline Saudia. Saturday's missile attack on Terminal 3 resulted in the deaths of four Saudis, along with a number of foreign nationals, including citizens of Bangladesh, the United States, Egypt, Jordan, Syria, Palestine, Sudan, and India. On Sunday, a projectile struck Terminal 4, killing a Pakistani resident.

King Fahd International Airport in Dammam also faced an attack on Sunday evening, though no casualties were reported. Later, the Saudi-led coalition announced it had intercepted a drone and a missile launched by the Houthis towards the southwestern city of Khamis Mushait.

Despite the security challenges, Prince Abdul Aziz thanked industry executives and policymakers for attending the WPC Energy Congress, assuring them of the country's safety and commitment to their protection. He acknowledged that recent developments had tested the nation but expressed confidence in Saudi Arabia's ability to overcome these challenges, describing Saudis as "fearless, combatant and determined people."

There has been no immediate public comment from the Houthis regarding the minister's vow of a "serious response." However, a Houthi military spokesman had previously stated that missiles and drones were launched at Riyadh and Dammam's airports, as well as two oil and gas facilities in the Eastern Province, in retaliation for Saudi actions.