World · Middle East · 1 hr ago
Houthi attacks and warnings disrupt flights across Saudi Arabia
Flights across Saudi Arabia were disrupted after attacks on airports and warnings from Yemen’s Houthi movement.
The Houthis warned airlines, airport workers and travellers not to use Saudi airports or airspace, except those serving Mecca and Medina.
The group claimed responsibility for attacks on Riyadh airport and said it had also struck Dammam airport and Saudi Aramco facilities.
A strike on Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport on Saturday killed 13 people and injured 309, according to the account from Saudi authorities and subsequent reporting.
A separate attack on Sunday killed one Pakistani resident and injured 11 people.
Riyadh and Dammam airports were reported closed, while Jeddah recorded widespread cancellations and delays.
Lufthansa suspended Riyadh flights until 16 October, and Air France-KLM extended its suspension through the end of October.
Houthi attacks and warnings disrupted air travel across Saudi Arabia, with airlines suspending services and many flights cancelled or delayed.
Riyadh and Dammam airports were reported closed on Sunday, while Jeddah airport recorded 156 cancellations and 374 delays.
A Saturday attack on Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport killed 12 people, with the toll later rising to 13, according to reports cited by the article.
The Houthis warned airlines, airport workers and travellers against using Saudi airports and airspace, except those serving Mecca and Medina.
The group claimed responsibility for attacks on Riyadh airport and additional strikes on Dammam airport and Saudi Aramco facilities.
- Who
- Yemen’s Houthi movement claimed responsibility for attacks and warned people against using Saudi airports and airspace.
- What
- Attacks and warnings disrupted flights across Saudi Arabia, causing cancellations, delays and suspended airline services.
- When
- The disruptions were reported on Monday, 12 October 2026, following attacks on Saturday and Sunday.
- Where
- Saudi Arabia, including Riyadh, Dammam and Jeddah.
- Why
- The Houthis warned that Saudi airports and airspace were exposed to targeting and were a theatre of operations for their forces.
Houthi movement
Saudi-led coalition and Saudi authorities
Responsibility
Houthi movement
The Houthis claimed responsibility for attacks on Riyadh airport and additional strikes on Dammam airport and Saudi Aramco facilities.
Saudi-led coalition and Saudi authorities
The Saudi-led coalition described the deadly Riyadh attack as a “full-fledged war crime”.
Use of Saudi airspace
Houthi movement
The Houthis warned airlines, workers and travellers against using Saudi airports and airspace, except those serving Mecca and Medina.
Saudi-led coalition and Saudi authorities
Saudi authorities reported airport attacks and casualties; the article does not state their position on the Houthi warning.
The Yemeni armed forces renew their warning to all aviation and navigation companies, experts, staff, workers, and travellers against using Saudi airports and airspace,
The airports and airspace are exposed to targeting and constitute a theatre of operations for our forces, with the exception of the airports of Makkah and Madina,
full-fledged war crime
contemptible
An attack on Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport killed 12 people and injured 309, according to Saudi Arabia’s General Authority of Civil Aviation.
Flightradar24 reported that Riyadh and Dammam airports were closed, and the Houthis issued a warning against using Saudi airports and airspace.
A separate attack killed a Pakistani resident and injured 11 others, according to Saudi authorities.
Saudi airports faced widespread disruption, with cancellations and delays reported in Riyadh and Jeddah.
- Riyadh attack deaths
- 13, after an injured Indian national died
- Riyadh attack injuries
- 309 in the Saturday attack
- Riyadh Sunday cancellations
- 99.7% of flights
- Jeddah cancellations
- 156 flights, or 20% of scheduled flights
- Jeddah delays
- 374 flights, or 49% of scheduled flights
- Houthi warning exception
- Airports serving Mecca and Medina
Sources
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