King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh was attacked again on Saturday, forcing Saudi Arabia’s civil aviation authority to suspend operations and evacuate the facility. Several people were injured, with at least five reportedly receiving intensive-care treatment. Flights were halted, cancelled or diverted, while Lufthansa Group suspended services to Riyadh through 16 October as authorities assessed damage and airport safety.
The Saudi General Authority of Civil Aviation confirmed the attack and the temporary operational shutdown but did not officially assign responsibility in its initial statement. The Iran-backed Houthi movement in Yemen was widely identified as the suspected perpetrator, although no immediate claim of responsibility had been formally confirmed by Saudi authorities.
Passengers were advised to check flight status with their airlines before travelling to the airport. The German government urged travellers to avoid using King Khalid International until further notice, warning of additional air attacks and continuing disruption to air traffic.
The incident followed a series of attacks on Saudi aviation facilities during the week. An earlier strike on Thursday targeted airport facilities and a Saudia aircraft; Saudi authorities later reported that three Saudi nationals had been killed. Airlines including Lufthansa Group, Air India, flydubai and Pakistan International Airlines suspended or reduced services to Riyadh and other Saudi airports as cancellations and diversions increased.