Yemen Houthis Renew Riyadh Airport Threats
Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthis renewed their warnings against using Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport on October 25, just hours after facility managers announced a partial resumption of flights, AsiaOne reported. Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Saree declared that the aviation hub remained an active military target and vowed that operations targeting the facility would continue.
The renewed threats follow a devastating October 10 attack on the airport claimed by the Houthis. That strike killed 13 people and wounded more than 300 others, marking the deadliest attack inside Saudi Arabia in more than a decade. Operations at the facility remained completely suspended until late October 24, when airport management announced that Terminal 1 would reopen for domestic flights and Terminal 2 would handle international flights operated by national carriers starting October 25.
Missile Interceptions Over Saudi Skies
The aviation threats coincided with a heavy barrage of incoming aerial attacks across the kingdom. On October 25, the Saudi-led coalition announced it had intercepted two drones and a ballistic missile launched toward Riyadh, alongside a cruise missile aimed at the southern city of Khamis Mushait. Saudi civil defence authorities issued emergency alerts for Riyadh, Abha, and Khamis Mushait before declaring the immediate danger had passed minutes later. Additional coalition reports confirmed the interception of 10 ballistic missiles fired toward southern Saudi Arabia.
BREAKING🇾🇪🇸🇦: Yemen’s Houthis Struck two strategic location of Saudi Oil Refinery, Aden Airport and Riyadh city with missiles. – Houthi’s bombed Saudi Aviation, energy infrastructure and Yemeni Shabwa Camp. pic.twitter.com/X2knmAIClx
Despite the partial reopening announcement, flight tracking data from Flightradar24 showed minimal traffic at King Khalid International Airport on Sunday. Yahoo reported that Houthi officials claimed responsibility for launching attacks on multiple air hubs and oil installations across the kingdom, though Saudi authorities did not immediately comment on those specific claims. Meanwhile, shrapnel from intercepted ballistic missiles over Khamis Mushait and Ahad Rafidah injured two people and damaged residential buildings and vehicles, according to Saudi civil defence updates.
The escalating cross-border fire highlights a wider regional escalation. The conflict has turned Saudi Arabia into a major pressure point amid the broader United States-Israeli offensive against Iran. In response to the persistent drone and missile attacks, Saudi Arabia has stepped up military strikes against the Houthis in Yemen. This intensified campaign follows Houthi advances last month seizing strategic territory along Yemen’s Red Sea coast near the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, a vital global maritime chokepoint. The renewed combat has shattered a United Nations-brokered truce that had largely held since 2022.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Riyadh Airport Threats
Why did King Khalid International Airport suspend operations?
Operations were halted after a deadly October 10 attack claimed by the Houthis killed 13 people and wounded over 300 others, according to reports from AsiaOne and The Straits Times.
Which airport terminals reopened on October 25?
King Khalid Airport designated Terminal 1 for domestic flights and Terminal 2 for international flights operated by national carriers, as reported by Yahoo and other outlets.
What damage did the October 25 missile intercepts cause?
Shrapnel from intercepted ballistic missiles over Khamis Mushait and Ahad Rafidah injured two people and damaged residential buildings and vehicles, according to Saudi civil defence authorities cited by Yahoo.
How have Saudi forces responded to the Houthi attacks?
The Saudi-led coalition has intercepted multiple drones and ballistic missiles while stepping up military airstrikes against Houthi positions in Yemen following the group’s advance along the Red Sea coast, as detailed by Reuters and reported via Yahoo.
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