Flights between Türkiye and Gulf face risk after unconfirmed Riyadh airport claim

Yemen's Houthi group claimed on Monday evening that it carried out three military operations against Saudi Arabia, striking two airports, a state-owned oil refinery and several military sites. The claim, which the group described as a significant escalation of cross-border attacks, includes a warning to international airlines operating in Saudi airspace. As of the report early on 6 October 2026, Saudi authorities had not commented.

Key facts

• Claimed targets: King Khalid International Airport (Riyadh), Abha Airport, an Aramco refinery in Rabigh, the Khamis Mushait military base and Akfa camp.
• The operations reportedly used ballistic and cruise missiles as well as drones.
• Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree said the strikes disrupted air traffic at Riyadh's airport, though this was not confirmed.
• International airlines were warned that Saudi airspace falls within the Houthis' declared area of operations, except over Mecca and Medina.
• Saudi authorities have made no immediate comment on the claims.

What is claimed to have been hit?

According to Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree, writing on the social media platform X, the first operation struck King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh. He said the strike hit its intended target and disrupted air traffic at the facility, which the report describes as one of the busiest airports in the Gulf region.

The second operation, Saree said, targeted an Aramco refinery in Rabigh, a Red Sea coastal city in the Mecca region, and sparked a fire there. A third operation hit Abha Airport, the Khamis Mushait military base and Akfa camp in the southern Asir region. He added that other "sensitive sites" in the provinces of Najran and Jazan, near the border with Yemen, were also struck.

Why is this happening?

Saree framed the attacks as retaliation for 60 Saudi airstrikes and missile attacks carried out over the preceding 24 hours against Sanaa and the provinces of Al-Jawf, Taiz, Hajjah, Saada and Marib. He said the total number of airstrikes and missile attacks since the current escalation began had reached 1,576.

The Houthis control much of northern Yemen, including Sanaa, and have targeted Saudi Arabia with missiles and drones for years amid the broader conflict in Yemen, which pits the group against the internationally recognised Yemeni government and a Saudi-led military coalition backing it since 2015.

What this means for travellers

The Houthi spokesman issued a warning to international airlines flying through Saudi airspace, saying the territory now falls within the group's declared area of operations. He made an exception for the airspace over the holy cities of Mecca and Medina.

The claim that air traffic at King Khalid International Airport was disrupted has not been confirmed by Saudi authorities. The source gives no details of flight cancellations, diversions or airport closures, and no information on whether flights to Abha Airport were affected. Travellers booked on flights to, from or over Saudi Arabia should check their airline's latest operational notices before departure.

No further official statements or confirmations have been announced in the report.