Saudi Arabia extends Riyadh airport shutdown after attacks

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Extension would allow officials to complete procedures to verify the safety of airport facilities

Saudi Arabia has extended the suspension of operations at King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh until October 16 following attacks on the facility over the weekend, the General Authority of Civil Aviation said Monday.

In a statement, the authority said the extension would allow officials to complete procedures to verify the safety of airport facilities and ensure operational readiness. It did not specify when flights would resume.

The decision follows reports of two incidents at the airport on Saturday and Sunday, with Saudi authorities reporting fatalities and injuries in both incidents.

According to Saudi authorities, an unidentified projectile struck Terminal 4 on Sunday afternoon, killing a Pakistani resident and injuring 11 others.

The Saudi-led coalition also said it intercepted and destroyed a cruise missile near the airport.

A day earlier, on Saturday, a reported Houthi attack struck a passenger terminal, killing 13 people and injuring 309, according to Saudi authorities.

The Saudi-led coalition accused Yemen’s Houthi movement of carrying out Saturday’s attack and described the strike as a “full-fledged war crime.”

The reported incidents come amid escalating hostilities between Saudi Arabia and Yemen’s Houthis, with airports and other civilian and energy facilities reportedly targeted in recent days.

The airport suspension is intended to allow safety checks and assessments before operations resume. However, Saudi Arabia’s civil aviation authority has not announced a timeline for reopening.

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