Riyadh International Airport has announced that flights will resume on Sunday, October 16, 2026 (25 Mehr 1402). This decision comes after two weeks of closure following attacks by the Houthi group from Yemen on the capital of Saudi Arabia.
Houthi Attacks and Their Consequences
The Houthi group, which is supported by Iran, has launched a wave of attacks on Saudi Arabia in recent weeks following the collapse of a years-long ceasefire. These conflicts have drawn attention to the broader war between the United States and Iran and have deepened the humanitarian crisis in Yemen, one of the poorest countries in the world.
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Reports indicate that in one of the recent attacks, 13 people lost their lives and over 300 others were injured, making this the deadliest attack in Saudi Arabia in more than a decade. Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree has warned that Riyadh Airport is still "unsafe" and is considered a "military target."
New Information from the Airport
King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh has announced that Terminal 1 will be dedicated to domestic flights and Terminal 2 will be allocated for international flights of national airlines. These changes will take effect on Sunday. In this context, the Saudi-led military coalition fighting the Houthis announced on Sunday morning that it had shot down two drones in the Riyadh area.
The Houthi spokesman stated that "the armed forces of Yemen warn all domestic, regional, and international airlines, as well as employees and passengers, not to use King Khalid Airport in Riyadh," adding that "the Saudi regime must bear the consequences of any operations at the airport."
These developments reflect ongoing tensions in the region and the dangers posed by military conflicts in the Gulf. Given the current situation, it is expected that conditions will remain volatile, and aviation industry stakeholders and passengers will face serious challenges.
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