Saudi Arabia Partially Reopens Riyadh Airport Despite Houthi Threats
Riyadh's main international airport has partially resumed operations despite ongoing Houthi threats and missile attacks, as regional conflict escalates following a deadly strike.
King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh has partially resumed operations in two of its terminals, despite ongoing threats from Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen. The facility had been closed since October 10 following a deadly Houthi attack that killed 13 people, marking the most lethal strike in the kingdom in over a decade.
Following the partial reopening announced by Saudi authorities, Houthi military spokesman Yahya Sarea vowed that the facility would never be safe and urged airlines, airport staff, and passengers to avoid it. Airport officials stated that Terminal 1 will handle domestic flights, while Terminal 2 will accommodate international flights operated by national carriers.
Despite the announcement, flight tracking data from Flightradar24 showed very sparse traffic at the airport on Sunday. The Saudi-led coalition reported earlier this month that the Houthis carried out 20 attacks on the airport between October 1 and 11.
Concurrently, Saudi air defenses intercepted another wave of ballistic missiles and drones on Sunday. The Saudi Civil Defense reported that falling debris from two ballistic missiles intercepted over the cities of Khamis Mushait and Ahad Rafidah injured two people and damaged residential buildings and vehicles.
Emergency sirens were activated in Riyadh and other cities, including Abha, Jazan, and Najran, before being deactivated shortly afterward. The coalition reported intercepting ten ballistic missiles targeting the south of the country, along with two drones and a ballistic missile aimed at Riyadh and a cruise missile targeting Khamis Mushait.
According to media reports, the conflict has emerged as a destabilizing factor in the Middle East amid regional tensions, placing Saudi Arabia under intense pressure in the broader war. Riyadh has recently stepped up its strikes against the Houthis after the group seized strategic territory along the Red Sea coast last month, threatening the Bab el-Mandeb strait, a crucial shipping lane for global trade and oil. The renewed fighting in Yemen has effectively shattered a UN-brokered truce that had largely held since 2022.
