Riyadh airport tries to reopen as Houthi missiles, drones target Saudi Arabia

Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport moved to resume flights after a two-week closure caused by hostile activity, with authorities indicating that Terminal 1 would handle domestic flights and Terminal 2 would handle international flights by national carriers starting Oct. 25. The airport advised passengers to check with airlines before traveling as operations remained to some extent uncertain.

Houthi military authorities warned that Riyadh airport remains unsafe and a military target, instructing international, regional, and local airlines, as well as staff and travelers, to avoid using the facility. The warning stated that the Saudi regime would bear the consequences of any operations at the airport.

Saudi-led coalition forces reported intercepting multiple threats directed at the capital and surrounding areas, including a ballistic missile and two drones aimed toward Riyadh, along with a cruise missile aimed at Khamis Mushait and ten ballistic missiles launched toward the kingdom’s southern region. Officials described these interceptions as successful.

In the broader strikes, residents near Khamis Mushait reported heavy bombardment and significant shaking as explosions were heard, while warnings extended to the Abha and Namas governorates. The coalition described the operations as ongoing and emphasized the interoperability of air defenses in countering the attacks.

The Houthis claimed they targeted three Saudi airports within a 24-hour period, along with energy installations, a pipeline, and an air base. The developments come amid renewed hostilities after a truce between the Houthis and the Saudi-backed government collapsed and the Houthis intensified operations along Yemen’s Red Sea coast.