Saudi airports hit by repeated Houthi strikes as warnings issued
Saudi Arabia's Riyadh and Dammam airports face flight disruptions and casualties after repeated Houthi strikes, prompting military warnings and international condemnation.
Saudi Arabia's aviation sector remains in crisis following consecutive aerial attacks on major airports in Riyadh and Dammam. A secondary strike at King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh set fire to a passenger terminal and caused additional injuries, shortly after an initial assault left at least 12 people dead and over 300 wounded. In eastern Saudi Arabia, a separate strike on Dammam airport killed one person and injured eight, while coalition forces reported intercepting four incoming drones.
Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Saree designated Saudi airspace as a "theatre of operations," warning commercial airlines and passengers to avoid all Saudi airports apart from those serving the holy cities of Mecca and Medina. US President Donald Trump characterized the strikes as "not acceptable," while the Saudi-led coalition vowed retaliation against Houthi forces 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 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, 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