Saudi Arabia has reported 20 Houthi attacks on Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport over roughly two weeks, killing 17 people and injuring more than 330. The repeated strikes forced the closure of the kingdom’s principal international gateway, disrupting flights and undermining efforts to develop Riyadh as a global travel and business hub.
Coalition spokesman Turki al-Maliki attributed the attacks to Yemen’s Houthi movement. Saudi authorities reported that a separate strike on Abha International Airport killed two people and injured 28. The figures and responsibility claims could not be independently verified, while casualty accounts for the Riyadh attacks have differed, with some reports citing 18 deaths.
King Khalid International Airport was repeatedly targeted during the preceding week, including passenger facilities. One strike killed 13 people and injured more than 300, followed by another that killed one person and injured 11. Saudi aviation authorities suspended operations to complete security checks and verify the safety and operational readiness of airport facilities.
Aviation notices indicated that the closure was expected to continue until at least 17 October. Airlines cancelled services to Riyadh and other Saudi destinations, while flight data indicated that the shutdown affected a substantial share of scheduled operations at the airport.