Saudi Arabia reopens Riyadh airport after Houthi attack kills three

Saudi Arabia has reopened Riyadh's King Khalid International Airport after a Houthi attack that killed three people and injured several others, according to the country's civil aviation authority. The authority said the strike hit airport facilities and a Saudia aircraft, causing material damage and temporary disruption before operations returned to normal. Saudia later said one of its pilots, Captain Hamoud Ali Alkalthami, was killed in the incident.

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The General Authority of Civil Aviation said the attack took place on Thursday and that injuries ranged from minor to severe. It said air traffic at the airport has now resumed, while the national carrier confirmed the death of its captain and said the aircraft had been damaged. The Houthis said on Thursday that they had launched a ballistic missile towards King Khalid airport and claimed it had hit its intended target, causing damage and disrupting air traffic.

The latest strike comes after several attacks on Saudi airports in recent days, including earlier incidents at Abha, King Khalid, Jazan and Najran airports. GACA said earlier attacks this week killed three civilians and injured 36 people, while the Houthis have warned aviation companies to avoid Saudi airspace. The repeated targeting of airports has raised concern because these are civilian facilities with high public exposure and immediate operational sensitivity.

The incident also sits within the wider conflict between the Houthis and the Riyadh-backed internationally recognised government in Yemen. Saudi Arabia has faced repeated missile and drone attacks from the armed group since the war widened, and airport strikes have become a recurring feature of the confrontation. The latest attack adds pressure on aviation security and highlights the continuing reach of the conflict beyond Yemen's borders.

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Earlier reports from the same week said attacks on Abha and King Khalid airports killed three civilians and injured 36 people, while other strikes wounded people at Jazan and Najran airports near the Yemen border. The Saudi statement also follows a previous claim that a missile aimed at King Khalid airport had been intercepted in September, underlining the pattern of repeated attempts against the same infrastructure. The focus on airports suggests the Houthis are seeking to disrupt transport and signal reach deep into Saudi territory.

What remains unclear is the full extent of the damage to the aircraft and airport facilities, and whether there will be any further operational impact after the reopening. It is also not clear whether the Houthis will provide more detail on the attack or whether Saudi authorities will release a fuller casualty breakdown. Further official updates are likely as investigators and aviation officials continue to assess the incident.

Saudi Arabia said two missile attacks on King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh killed three Saudi nationals, including a Saudia pilot, in the latest cross-border strike claimed by Yemen's Houthi movement. The Saudi civil aviation authority said the attacks took place on Thursday and targeted both the airport and a Saudia aircraft on the ground. The incident also caused flight disruption in the capital and prompted safety precautions at nearby institutions.

The national carrier later confirmed the death of its captain, Hamoud Ali Alkalthami, and said it was mourning him with deep respect and appreciation. The civil aviation authority said the attacks also injured a number of Saudi citizens and residents of other nationalities, although it did not give a full breakdown. It added that air traffic had returned to normal, while the airport had advised travellers to contact airlines before setting out.

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The attacks had wider immediate effects beyond aviation. Diplomats in Riyadh were told to shelter in place, international schools took safety measures, and the kingdom's civil defence agency said interception debris damaged a kindergarten and a medical complex in the city. The agency did not say whether there were casualties at those sites or provide further details on the damage.

The strike matters because airports are highly sensitive civilian infrastructure and because Saudi Arabia has rarely acknowledged civilian sites being hit in this way. It also comes amid a renewed escalation in fighting linked to Yemen's war, with the Houthis stepping up attacks on Saudi targets and warning workers to leave the kingdom's oil facilities. The latest incident adds pressure on aviation security and raises the risk of further disruption in the region.

The Houthis, who control much of north-western Yemen and the capital Sanaa, have repeatedly used missiles and drones against targets in Saudi Arabia since the conflict widened after 2014. Saudi Arabia led a military coalition in support of Yemen's internationally recognised government from 2015, and the two sides have struggled to contain the fighting despite shifting front lines along the Red Sea coast. The Bab al-Mandeb strait remains strategically important because of its role in global energy and shipping routes.

The Saudi statement also follows earlier attacks on airports in the kingdom on October 6 and 7, which the civil aviation authority said killed three people and injured 36. Those earlier incidents included strikes on Abha International Airport and King Khalid International Airport, underscoring a pattern of repeated attacks on transport hubs. The latest claim by the Houthis said they had also targeted airports in Najran and Khamis Mushait, but Saudi Arabia has not confirmed those allegations.

What remains unclear is the full extent of the damage to the aircraft and airport facilities, and whether there will be any further operational impact once the situation is fully assessed. It is also not clear whether the Houthis will issue a more detailed account of the attack or whether Saudi authorities will release additional casualty information. Further official updates are likely as investigators and aviation officials continue to review the incident and the wider conflict develops.

Saudi Arabia said Houthi attacks on two airports killed three civilians and injured 36 people over two days, in the latest cross-border strikes linked to the Yemen conflict. The Saudi General Authority of Civil Aviation said the attacks hit Abha International Airport and King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, with casualties reported among foreign nationals and Saudi residents. The incidents add to a series of attacks on aviation infrastructure in the kingdom and underline the continuing reach of the conflict beyond Yemen's borders.

According to the authority, the attack on Abha Airport killed two foreign nationals, identified as an Egyptian and an Algerian, while the strike on King Khalid International Airport killed a Sudanese national. The agency said 36 people were wounded in the two attacks, but did not specify which airport was hit when. Hours later, the Houthis said they had carried out a fresh ballistic-missile attack on King Khalid International Airport and repeated a warning to airlines to avoid Saudi airspace.

The reported deaths and injuries are significant because airports are civilian facilities with high public exposure and operational sensitivity. Even when damage is limited, attacks on airports can disrupt travel, heighten security concerns and increase pressure on civil aviation authorities. The Saudi statement also follows earlier reports of missile and drone activity near airports in the kingdom, including claims of interceptions and explosions around Riyadh in September.

The latest claims come amid an intensifying confrontation between Saudi-backed Yemeni forces and the Iran-aligned Houthi movement, also known as Ansar Allah. The Houthis have controlled Sanaa since 2014 and have repeatedly used missiles and drones against targets in Yemen and Saudi Arabia as the war has widened. The Bab al-Mandeb corridor remains strategically important because of its role in regional shipping and wider security calculations, while the conflict has also driven large-scale displacement inside Yemen.

The supplied material says more than 200,000 people have been displaced within Yemen since the civil war reignited in July, according to the United Nations. That figure points to the broader humanitarian strain behind the latest airport attacks, which are part of a wider pattern of cross-border strikes that have repeatedly drawn regional actors into the war. Saudi Arabia has backed Yemen's internationally recognised government, while the Houthis have held territory across much of the north and west of the country.

What remains unclear is the full extent of any physical damage at Abha and Riyadh airports and whether operations were affected beyond the reported casualties. It is also not clear whether there will be independent confirmation of the Saudi account or a formal response from the Houthis beyond their claim of a new strike. Further official updates are likely as authorities continue to assess the impact of the attacks and the wider conflict develops.

Saudi Arabia says Houthi attacks on two airports killed three civilians and injured 36 people over two days, in the latest cross-border strikes linked to the Yemen conflict. The Saudi General Authority of Civil Aviation said the attacks hit Abha International Airport and King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, with casualties reported among foreign nationals and Saudi residents. The incidents add to a series of attacks on aviation infrastructure in the kingdom and underline the continuing reach of the conflict beyond Yemen's borders.

According to the authority, the attack on Abha Airport killed two foreign nationals, identified as an Egyptian and an Algerian, while the strike on King Khalid International Airport killed a Sudanese national. The agency said 36 people were wounded in the two attacks, but did not specify which airport was hit when. Hours later, the Houthis said they had carried out a fresh ballistic-missile attack on King Khalid International Airport and repeated a warning to airlines to avoid Saudi airspace.

The reported deaths and injuries are significant because airports are civilian facilities with high public exposure and operational sensitivity. Even when damage is limited, attacks on airports can disrupt travel, heighten security concerns and increase pressure on civil aviation authorities. The Saudi statement also follows earlier reports of missile and drone activity near airports in the kingdom, including claims of interceptions and explosions around Riyadh in September.

The latest claims come amid an intensifying confrontation between Saudi-backed Yemeni forces and the Iran-aligned Houthi movement, also known as Ansar Allah. The Houthis have controlled Sanaa since 2014 and have repeatedly used missiles and drones against targets in Yemen and Saudi Arabia as the war has widened. The Bab al-Mandeb corridor remains strategically important because of its role in regional shipping and wider security calculations, while the conflict has also driven large-scale displacement inside Yemen.

The supplied material says more than 200,000 people have been displaced within Yemen since the civil war reignited in July, according to the United Nations. That figure points to the broader humanitarian strain behind the latest airport attacks, which are part of a wider pattern of cross-border strikes that have repeatedly drawn regional actors into the war. Saudi Arabia has backed Yemen's internationally recognised government, while the Houthis have held territory across much of the north and west of the country.

What remains unclear is the full extent of any physical damage at Abha and Riyadh airports and whether operations were affected beyond the reported casualties. It is also not clear whether there will be independent confirmation of the Saudi account or a formal response from the Houthis beyond their claim of a new strike. Further official updates are likely as authorities continue to assess the impact of the attacks and the wider conflict develops.

Saudi Arabia says Houthi attacks on two airports killed three civilians and injured 36 people over two days, in the latest cross-border strikes linked to the Yemen conflict. The Saudi General Authority of Civil Aviation said the attacks hit Abha Airport and King Khalid International Airport, with casualties reported among foreign nationals and Saudi residents. The incidents add to a series of attacks on aviation infrastructure in the kingdom and underline the continuing reach of the conflict beyond Yemen's borders.

According to the authority, the attack on Abha Airport killed two female residents, identified as a Moroccan and an Algerian, and injured 28 others. The strike on King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh killed a Sudanese citizen and injured eight residents, including five Saudi citizens. The statement said the attacks took place on Tuesday and Wednesday, and that the injured were among passengers and residents affected by the strikes.

The reported deaths and injuries are significant because airports are civilian facilities with high public exposure and operational sensitivity. Even when damage is limited, attacks on airports can disrupt travel, heighten security concerns and increase pressure on civil aviation authorities. The Saudi statement also follows earlier reports of missile and drone activity near airports in the kingdom, including claims of interceptions and explosions around Riyadh in September.

The attacks come amid an intensifying confrontation between Saudi-backed Yemeni forces and the Iran-aligned Houthi movement, also known as Ansar Allah. The Houthis have controlled Sanaa since 2014 and have repeatedly used missiles and drones against targets in Yemen and Saudi Arabia as the war has widened. The Bab al-Mandeb corridor, mentioned in earlier reporting on the conflict, remains strategically important because of its role in regional shipping and wider security calculations.

The latest claims also fit a broader pattern of cross-border strikes that have repeatedly drawn regional actors into the war. Saudi Arabia has backed Yemen's internationally recognised government, while the Houthis have held territory across much of the north and west of the country. Airports, fuel sites and other civilian infrastructure have become recurring flashpoints because they sit at the intersection of military pressure, public safety and economic disruption.

What remains unclear is the full extent of any physical damage at Abha and Riyadh airports and whether operations were affected beyond the reported casualties. It is also not clear whether there will be an independent confirmation of the Saudi account or a formal response from the Houthis in the supplied material. Further official updates are likely as authorities continue to assess the impact of the attacks and the wider conflict develops.

Yemen's Transport Ministry said Houthi forces attacked Aden International Airport with ballistic missiles and explosive-laden drones early on Wednesday local time. The ministry said one missile landed near the runway minutes before a flight from Cairo was due to land, and the aircraft was diverted to Jeddah. In a separate development, the Saudi-led coalition said it intercepted and destroyed a Houthi ballistic missile north of Riyadh.

The Houthi military spokesperson, Yahya Saree, said the group had targeted King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh with several drones. There was no immediate Saudi confirmation of an attack on the airport. The coalition said it was tracking the launch platform over Houthi-controlled Sanaa and gave no details of casualties or damage.

Earlier on Wednesday, it also said it had intercepted and destroyed a Houthi ballistic missile launched towards the south-western Saudi city of Khamis Mushait. The reported strike on Aden is significant because the airport is the main international gateway for parts of Yemen outside Houthi control. Any disruption there affects civilian aviation, including scheduled passenger flights and access to southern Yemen.

The reported diversion of the Cairo flight underlines how quickly airport operations can be affected when air defences and missile activity are active in the area. The Saudi claims also show that the conflict continues to spill across the border into sensitive infrastructure in the kingdom. The attacks came as fighting intensified on several fronts in Yemen after Saudi-backed government forces launched a counteroffensive against the Houthis.

Government forces, with Saudi-led coalition air support, have been trying to retake the Red Sea coast around the strategic Bab el-Mandeb Strait and the city of Mocha. The same report said the Houthis had made territorial gains along Yemen's Red Sea coast in recent weeks, adding to the pressure on both military and civilian sites. More than 184,000 people have been displaced in Yemen since the fighting started, according to the supplied material.

The latest claims fit a wider pattern of cross-border attacks linked to the Yemen war, which has repeatedly drawn in regional actors. The Houthis, who control Sanaa, have increasingly used missiles and drones against targets in Yemen and Saudi Arabia as the conflict has escalated. Airports are especially sensitive targets because they serve passengers, staff and commercial traffic, and even limited disruption can have wider security and economic effects.

The Bab el-Mandeb corridor also remains strategically important because of its role in global shipping. What remains unclear is the full extent of any damage at Aden International Airport and whether there were wider operational disruptions beyond the diverted flight. It is also not clear whether the Saudi claims of interceptions north of Riyadh and near Khamis Mushait will be independently confirmed.

Saudi Arabia says three people were wounded when airports in Jazan and Najran were struck near the border with Yemen. The Civil Aviation Authority said King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Airport in Jazan and Najran Airport were hit on Monday evening, causing material damage. The authority said the injured suffered minor wounds and were taken to hospital.

The Saudi statement said specialised teams responded immediately after the attacks and that measures were being taken to protect passengers and staff. It also said damage assessments were continuing. The Houthis, also known as Ansar Allah, said late on Monday that their forces had targeted sites across southern Saudi Arabia, including airports and military sites.

The attacks come amid a wider escalation in fighting in Yemen, where forces aligned with the internationally recognised government are battling the Houthis. The Saudi-led coalition said early on Tuesday that it destroyed a ballistic missile launch platform in Sanaa and a storage facility in Saada containing 20 ballistic missiles. The coalition also said government-aligned forces had retaken the port city of Mocha and were now in control of the Bab al-Mandeb strait, a strategic shipping route.

The incident matters because it extends the conflict across the border into civilian aviation infrastructure in Saudi Arabia. Airports are sensitive targets because they serve passengers, staff and commercial traffic, and any disruption can have wider economic and security effects. The Gulf Cooperation Council secretary-general described attacks on airports and civilian facilities as a dangerous escalation, while Kuwait's foreign ministry condemned what it called continued attacks on Saudi Arabia.

The latest strikes also fit a pattern of cross-border attacks linked to the Yemen war, which has repeatedly drawn in regional actors. Saudi Arabia has backed the internationally recognised government, while the Houthis have controlled Sanaa since 2014 and remain a central force in the conflict. The reported attacks on Jazan and Najran follow earlier claims of strikes on Saudi infrastructure, including the capital's airport and an energy site, although those claims were not independently verified in the supplied material.

What remains unclear is the full extent of the damage at the two airports and whether there were any wider operational disruptions. It is also not clear how the latest attacks will affect the fighting in Yemen or the response from Saudi and coalition forces. Further official updates are likely as damage assessments continue and the military situation develops.

Yemen's Houthi movement has claimed a new attack on the main airport in the Saudi capital, alongside a strike on a refinery belonging to the state oil company Aramco. The claims came as fighting intensified in Yemen and along the Red Sea coast, with both sides reporting gains and counter-offensives. The situation on the ground remained fluid, and the claims could not be independently verified.

According to the supplied report, Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree said on Telegram that the group still held all territory it had recently seized, including strategic areas along the Red Sea coast. He said Houthi fighters had carried out dozens of strikes in the past few hours targeting government forces in Yemen's Al-Jawf and Marib regions, as well as Taiz governorate. The same report said loud explosions were heard in the Saudi capital on the previous night.

Government forces said they had pushed the Houthis out of the Bab al-Mandab area, a key shipping route in the Red Sea, and out of the port city of Mocha, which had been captured last month. Military sources, however, stopped short of formally confirming that Mocha had been taken, saying only that supply lines to the area had been cut. Yemen's civilian aviation authority also said at least three people were wounded in attacks on Jazan and Najran airports near the border a day earlier.

The reported strikes matter because they link the fighting in Yemen directly to Saudi infrastructure and to a major maritime corridor. Bab al-Mandab is one of the most sensitive chokepoints in global shipping, and any fighting there raises concerns for trade and regional security. The reported attack on Riyadh airport also suggests the conflict is extending beyond the immediate front lines in Yemen.

The broader conflict has escalated after years of relative calm, with Yemen's civil war flaring again in July. The report said this opened a new front in the wider Middle East war that began with US-Israeli strikes on Iran in February. It also said the Houthis seized control of Yemen's entire western coastline along the Red Sea last month, in the country's deadliest fighting in years.

Saudi Arabia has been providing air support for the government's counter-offensive, according to the report, while the Yemeni government says it aims to retake all Houthi-held territory. The Houthis have also regularly targeted oil and military installations in recent weeks, adding to the pressure on both military and civilian infrastructure. What remains unclear is the full extent of the damage from the latest claimed strikes and whether either side's battlefield claims will be confirmed in the coming days.

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