Houthi rebels warn airlines against using Saudi airspace following airport attacks
Yemen's Houthi movement warned airlines to avoid Saudi airports following consecutive deadly strikes on facilities in Riyadh and Dammam.
Yemen’s Houthi movement has warned commercial airlines and passengers to avoid Saudi airspace, designating the country's airports as a "theatre of operations" following consecutive strikes in Riyadh and Dammam. Exceptions were made only for facilities serving Mecca and Medina.
The warning came after a secondary assault on King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh caused a fire in a passenger hall and additional casualties. An earlier strike on the capital's airport killed at least 12 people and injured over 300, forcing a suspension of flight operations. Meanwhile, a separate attack on Dammam airport in eastern Saudi Arabia left one dead and eight injured, with coalition forces intercepting four incoming drones in the region.
US President Donald Trump called the strikes "not acceptable," while the Saudi-led military coalition pledged retaliation against Houthi targets in Yemen.
Sources: BBC News, France24, STV News, Sweden Herald, The Guardian.
How outlets assessed this
- STV News Alarmed Emphasized local official reports of high casualties and severe structural damage at the airport terminal.
- Cyprus Mail Cautious Relied on official Saudi aviation casualty counts and emphasized coalition strikes on Houthi targets in Yemen.
Sources
- France24 — Middle East live: Riyadh airport attack 'not acceptable,' Trump says
- The Guardian — Middle East crisis live: Houthis warn passengers against using Saudi airport after deadly attack on Riyadh
- STV News — At least 12 killed in attack on Saudi Arabia’s Riyadh airport
- BBC News — Saudi Arabia's Riyadh airport hit by second Houthi strike in two days
- Sweden Herald — One killed and at least eight injured in attack on Dammam airport in Saudi Arabia
Earlier coverage
- Oct 25, 2026, 06:00 AM UTCHouthi strikes hit Saudi airports as group warns against using kingdom's airspace
- Oct 24, 2026, 10:30 PM UTCSaudi airports hit by repeated Houthi strikes as warnings issued
- Oct 24, 2026, 04:30 AM UTCHouthi strikes force closure of Riyadh airport as regional tensions rise
- Oct 22, 2026, 09:30 AM UTCSaudi airports targeted in new Houthi strikes as flight operations halt
- Oct 22, 2026, 04:30 AM UTCSaudi Arabia launches retaliatory strikes following Houthi attacks on airports
- Oct 22, 2026, 03:00 AM UTCSaudi airports hit by fresh strikes as Houthis warn travellers
- Oct 19, 2026, 04:30 PM UTCRiyadh airport operations remain suspended following second day of Houthi strikes
- Oct 19, 2026, 03:30 PM UTCRiyadh airport operations remain suspended after second Houthi strike
- Oct 16, 2026, 05:30 AM UTCRiyadh airport operations remain halted after second day of Houthi strikes
- Oct 15, 2026, 10:00 PM UTCHouthi strikes hit Riyadh airport for second day as operations remain suspended