Saudi airports face growing disruptions amid Houthi attacks, heightened security warnings

A wave of attacks on Saudi airports over the past week has disrupted air travel, forced schools in Riyadh to shift to online learning and prompted foreign governments to issue warnings as authorities reported fresh strikes targeting airports in the capital and Dammam.

Ten attacks targeted five airports between Oct. 5 and 11, killing 20 people and injuring hundreds, according to an Anadolu tally based on official statements.

King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh was the hardest hit, with five attacks, followed by King Fahd International Airport in Dammam with two. Three other attacks targeted airports in Abha, Jazan and Najran.

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Fresh attacks reported in Riyadh and Dammam

The latest casualties were confirmed early Monday.

Saudi Arabia’s General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) said Sunday’s attack on King Khalid International Airport killed a Pakistani resident and injured 11 people, who were taken to hospitals for treatment.

The authority said the attack caused material damage that was still being assessed.

Earlier, Saudi-led coalition spokesman Turki al-Maliki said an unidentified projectile struck Terminal 4, causing a fire.

The coalition also announced that air defenses had intercepted and destroyed a cruise missile near the airport.

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Later Sunday, GACA reported an attack on King Fahd International Airport in Dammam, saying damage assessments and safety inspections were underway.

The authority provided no details on casualties or the extent of the damage.

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The latest incidents followed an attack Saturday on King Khalid International Airport which killed 13 people and injured 309 others.

GACA initially reported 12 fatalities, including four Saudi citizens, two Bangladeshis and one national each from the US, Egypt, Jordan, Syria, Palestine and Sudan.

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The Indian Embassy in Riyadh subsequently announced Sunday that an Indian national injured in the attack had died, raising the death toll to 13.

The authority said the injured were receiving treatment at several hospitals, with some in critical condition, and that the airport sustained material damage.

The Saudi-led coalition blamed Yemen’s Houthi group for the attack and vowed a firm response.

The Houthis renewed their warning Sunday to airlines, passengers and airport workers against using Saudi airports, except those in Mecca and Medina.

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GACA temporarily suspended operations at King Khalid International Airport after Saturday’s attack to assess the damage and inspect facilities.

The authority said further updates would follow in coordination with the relevant agencies. Safety inspections and damage assessments continued after Sunday’s attack.

Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Ministry urged citizens abroad whose flights to Riyadh had been canceled or delayed to contact Saudi diplomatic missions for assistance.

Airlines cancel services to several Saudi citiesEtihad Airways canceled selected flights between Abu Dhabi and Riyadh, Dammam and Jeddah from Oct. 11-13, citing regional disruptions.

Its schedule listed five canceled flight sectors Sunday, 10 on Monday and seven on Tuesday, affecting all three Saudi destinations.

The airline warned of further changes and urged passengers to check their flight status, saying it was assisting affected travelers.

SriLankan Airlines suspended all flights to Riyadh until Oct. 18, citing security concerns and ongoing safety assessments.

In a statement Saturday, the carrier said services would resume once conditions were deemed suitable for commercial operations.

Schools in Riyadh switched to distance learning for the week beginning Sunday, Oct. 11, according to a Gulf News report citing an email sent to parents.

The email attributed the decision to instructions from Saudi Arabia’s Education Ministry.

“All schools in Riyadh will switch to distance learning for the entire week,” it said.

The move marked the second shift to remote learning in the capital in less than a month.

Foreign governments warn citizensSeveral governments issued or updated security advisories for citizens traveling to or staying in Saudi Arabia, citing the risk of further attacks and travel disruptions.

The UK advised citizens to avoid King Khalid International Airport until it was secure and warned of further attacks, cancellations and airspace closures.

Australia also advised against travel to the Riyadh airport and urged citizens to reconsider travel to Saudi Arabia, reconfirm flights and minimize time spent at airports.

France called for heightened vigilance and advised against nonessential travel to Riyadh, urging citizens to follow local safety instructions and check flights before heading to airports in Riyadh or Jeddah.

The US urged Americans to reconsider travel to Saudi Arabia and to follow precautions similar to those imposed on US government employees, who require special authorization to use Riyadh airport.

The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) advised airlines to avoid specified portions of Saudi airspace and exercise caution elsewhere in the Jeddah flight information region.

It warned of risks to aircraft from attacks, interceptions, misidentification and falling debris.

The attacks come amid a broader escalation in Yemen that began in July after a period of relative calm following a UN-brokered truce that took effect in April 2022.Fighting intensified in September when the Houthis seized strategic positions in western Yemen, including areas near the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, prompting military operations by the Saudi-led coalition.

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