Riyadh Airport Evacuated After Missile Attack as Saudi Strikes Intensify
At a Glance
- Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport was evacuated after a missile struck a domestic terminal complex.
- Regional officials reported injuries, while Saudi authorities suspended airport operations to assess the damage.
- US President Donald Trump said Washington was considering joining Saudi strikes against Yemen’s Houthi rebels.
- Flight cancellations and aviation warnings have increased as attacks on Saudi infrastructure continue.
Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport was evacuated on Saturday after a missile struck a complex housing domestic flight terminals, according to regional officials, in the latest attack amid escalating Houthi assaults on Saudi Arabia.
Key Statements and Focus Area
- US Response: “We may. We’re going to look at it.” — US President Donald Trump, on whether Washington would join Saudi strikes against the Houthis
- Diplomacy: Saudi Arabia and Oman stressed the importance of “supporting diplomatic solutions to de-escalate tensions” in the region, according to the Saudi government.
- Focus Area: Escalating attacks on Saudi airports and infrastructure and the growing risks to regional security and civil aviation.
One regional official said the missile struck the complex housing terminals 3 and 4, which serve domestic flights, and that several people were wounded. The officials spoke anonymously because they were not authorized to brief the media.
Saudi civil aviation authorities suspended airport operations while assessing casualties and damage. An aviation notice indicated the suspension would remain in place until midnight. Flights were diverted, and several countries advised their citizens to avoid the airport.
The latest assault follows a Saudi-led coalition offensive against the Houthis. The group had accused Saudi Arabia of striking Sanaa International Airport in Yemen’s capital, which is under Houthi control. There was no immediate Houthi statement on Saturday’s reported attack on Riyadh.
The escalation has raised concerns about the security of Saudi Arabia, the world’s leading oil exporter, and the impact on regional energy markets. Saudi Arabia’s energy ministry continued promoting an international energy conference scheduled to begin in Riyadh on Sunday.
Fighting has also intensified in Yemen, where the Saudi-led coalition is providing air support to government forces against Houthi advances along the Red Sea. The conflict is unfolding as Iran’s war-related attacks and restrictions have disrupted shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, increasing the strategic importance of alternative maritime routes.
Regional officials have said Saudi Arabia is running low on missile interceptors and has sought additional air defense support from France, Britain, Pakistan, and Egypt. US support for operations against the Houthis has included intelligence sharing, target identification, and planning, according to officials cited in the report.
Flight Disruptions
Flight cancellations have mounted as the Houthis warned international airlines about operating in Saudi airspace. FlightAware reported at least 225 cancellations at Riyadh airport over the previous 24 hours.
Air India, FlyDubai, Lufthansa Group, and Pakistan International Airlines were among the carriers that suspended flights to or from Riyadh and other Saudi airports for varying periods.
The European Union Aviation Safety Agency expanded its guidance on Saudi airspace, warning that Houthi attacks reaching deeper into the kingdom and the growing focus on aviation infrastructure had increased risks to civil aviation. It also warned that missile and drone attacks, alongside interception efforts, could increase the risk of civil aircraft being misidentified.
Regional officials also said Houthi attacks on Riyadh airport on Thursday damaged three aircraft. Saudi national carrier Saudia confirmed that one of its aircraft was damaged while parked on the ground, with no passengers aboard.
Saudi authorities have separately warned the public that filming or sharing information about missile and drone interception efforts or impact sites could carry legal consequences.
FYI
The Houthis are an armed political and military movement that controls Sanaa and other parts of Yemen. The group has received support from Iran and has previously attacked ships in the Red Sea, saying its actions were linked to the war in Gaza.
Saudi Arabia has intervened militarily in Yemen in support of the internationally recognized government. The latest escalation adds pressure to regional aviation and energy infrastructure at a time when conflict involving Iran has already disrupted shipping and heightened security concerns across the Middle East.
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