Houthis issue Saudi airspace warning after repeated airport strikes
Yemen's Houthis warned airlines and travelers to avoid Saudi airspace following consecutive deadly strikes on Riyadh and Dammam airports.
Yemen’s Houthi movement has warned commercial airlines and travelers to avoid Saudi Arabian airspace and most airports following consecutive strikes on the kingdom's aviation infrastructure. Military spokesperson Yahya Saree declared that Saudi facilities, excluding those in Mecca and Medina, "constitute a theatre of operations for our forces."
The statement follows a second attack in two days on King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, which triggered a terminal fire and suspended flight operations. Casualties from the assaults in the capital reached at least 12 dead and over 300 injured. Additionally, a drone strike on Dammam airport in eastern Saudi Arabia resulted in one death and eight injuries, with coalition air defenses intercepting four incoming drones.
US President Donald Trump condemned the attacks as "not acceptable," while the Saudi-led coalition vowed military retaliation against Houthi positions.
Sources: BBC News, France24, STV News, Sweden Herald, The Guardian.
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 27, 2026, 06:00 AM UTCHouthi movement warns airlines after deadly strikes on Saudi airports
- Oct 27, 2026, 04:30 AM UTCHouthis issue Saudi airspace warning after repeated airport strikes
- Oct 26, 2026, 06:00 AM UTCHouthi strikes on Saudi airports prompt flight warnings and international concern
- Oct 26, 2026, 03:00 AM UTCHouthis warn travelers after repeated strikes hit Saudi airports
- Oct 25, 2026, 06:00 AM UTCHouthi strikes hit Saudi airports as group warns against using kingdom's airspace
- Oct 25, 2026, 03:00 AM UTCHouthi rebels warn airlines against using Saudi airspace following airport attacks
- 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