Archive · 8 Oct 2026
Houthi Attacks Disrupt Riyadh Flights as Regional Tensions Escalate
The Houthis, a group fighting in Yemen, said they attacked Saudi Arabia.
They claimed they targeted Riyadh airport and warned people to avoid oil facilities.
A video showed smoke and flames near a plane, but the reason the plane caught fire was not confirmed.
Saudi officials said missile debris damaged a kindergarten and a medical complex.
Some flights to Riyadh were suspended or disrupted.
Saudi Arabia is seeking help from other countries, and Turkey said it would provide mainly defensive and technical support.
The renewed fighting has forced 200,000 people from their homes.
The sides disagree about what caused the conflict, with the Houthis citing Saudi support for their opponents and Saudi Arabia backing Yemen’s internationally recognised government.
The Houthis claimed they struck Riyadh airport and warned workers to stay away from Saudi energy facilities.
Video verified by Reuters showed smoke and flames near a commercial plane; the cause of the fire was not immediately confirmed.
Saudi authorities said debris from an intercepted missile damaged a kindergarten and medical complex in Riyadh.
Lufthansa and Air India suspended flights to Riyadh, while aviation data showed widespread cancellations and delays.
The renewed Yemen fighting has displaced 200,000 people, and Saudi Arabia is seeking allied support as Turkey offers mainly defensive and technical assistance.
- Who
- The Houthis, Saudi Arabia, and forces supporting Yemen’s internationally recognised government.
- What
- Houthi attacks and threats against Saudi targets disrupted air travel and raised concerns about energy facilities.
- When
- Thursday, October 8; the report says three people had been killed in strikes that week.
- Where
- Riyadh and other locations in Saudi Arabia, amid renewed fighting in Yemen.
- Why
- The Houthis said they were targeting Saudi Arabia over its support for government forces in Yemen; Saudi Arabia said it was backing the government’s offensive against the Houthis.
Houthi position
Saudi and Yemeni government position
Reason for the fighting
Houthi position
The Houthis say they are responding to attacks from the Saudi-backed Yemeni government and target Saudi Arabia because of its support for that government.
Saudi and Yemeni government position
Saudi Arabia says it is backing an offensive by Yemen’s internationally recognised government to retake territory from the Houthis; that government denies the Houthi account of its attacks.
Targets and security
Houthi position
The Houthis said they struck Riyadh airport and warned workers to stay away from Saudi energy facilities.
Saudi and Yemeni government position
Saudi authorities said debris from an intercepted missile damaged a kindergarten and a medical complex, and the Saudi-led coalition said it destroyed missiles launched toward Riyadh and Khamis Mushayt.
- Reported date
- October 8
- Reported deaths
- Saudi authorities said three people had been killed in strikes that week.
- Riyadh airport disruption
- Cirium data showed almost 50% of departures cancelled by 1500 GMT.
- Expected cancellations
- Cirium expected 31 more cancellations for Friday across Saudi airports.
- Airlines suspending Riyadh flights
- Lufthansa and Air India
- Displacement
- The renewed conflict has displaced 200,000 people.
- Turkey's support
- A Turkish official described the assistance as mainly defensive and technical, including equipment, intelligence sharing, and weapons systems.