World · Middle East · 2 hrs ago
Riyadh Airport Closure Disrupts Flights as Iran Offers to Mediate
Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport in Saudi Arabia remains closed indefinitely after repeated attacks by Yemen’s Houthi rebels over the weekend.
The closure has disrupted flights, with Lufthansa cancelling Riyadh services through October 16 and Air France-KLM extending its suspension through the end of the month.
The US Federal Aviation Administration has warned US airlines to use extra caution when flying to or over Saudi Arabia.
A major international oil conference near the airport was also affected, as many global energy company chief executives did not attend.
Iran has expressed concern about the escalating clashes and says it is ready to help bring the Houthis and Saudi Arabia into talks; the two countries’ foreign ministers have discussed ways to ease regional tensions.
The Houthi attacks are continuing, so it is unclear whether the situation will calm, while Iran’s Revolutionary Guard has also said it struck a large oil tanker in the Strait of Hormuz.
Saudi authorities extended the closure of King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh indefinitely after a series of Houthi attacks over the weekend.
Lufthansa cancelled all flights to Riyadh through October 16, while Air France-KLM extended its suspension of Riyadh services through the end of October.
The US Federal Aviation Administration urged US airlines to use extra caution when flying to or over Saudi Arabia.
Iran said it was ready to mediate talks between the Houthis and Saudi Arabia as their clashes escalated.
The ongoing disruption also affected an international oil conference near the airport, where many global energy company chief executives did not attend.
- Who
- Saudi authorities, Yemen’s Houthi rebels, and Iran are central to the story.
- What
- Riyadh airport’s closure was extended indefinitely, disrupting flights; Iran offered to mediate talks between the Houthis and Saudi Arabia.
- When
- The closure extension followed Houthi attacks over the weekend. The article was published on October 12, 2026.
- Where
- King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
- Why
- The airport closure followed repeated attacks by Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthi rebels.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Houthi rebels carried out a series of attacks, after which Saudi authorities extended the airport closure.
Lufthansa cancelled Riyadh flights through October 16, and Air France-KLM extended its suspension through the end of the month.
Iran said it was ready to mediate dialogue between the Houthis and Saudi Arabia.
- Airport
- King Khalid International Airport, Riyadh
- Closure
- Extended indefinitely
- Lufthansa flights
- Cancelled through October 16
- Air France-KLM services
- Suspended through the end of October
- Iran offer
- Mediation between the Houthis and Saudi Arabia
What people are saying
We have repeatedly stated our readiness to make mediation efforts to facilitate dialogue between the two sides.
Sources
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