Riyadh airport attacked again as flights disrupted and travel warnings issued

Attacks on Saudi Arabian airports have killed and wounded travellers and disrupted international flights, with the Houthis claiming a new strike on Riyadh's King Khalid International Airport on Sunday evening following a deadly missile attack there a day earlier. Saudi Arabia's General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) said the Sunday attack "resulted in injuries", without giving further details.

Key facts

• A missile struck King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh on Saturday, killing 12 people and wounding 309 others, some critically, according to GACA.
• The dead included four Saudi nationals, two Bangladeshis and one citizen each from the US, Egypt, Jordan, Syria, Palestine and Sudan.
• Airport operations were suspended, with flights cancelled or diverted, and several airlines suspended services to Saudi destinations.
• The US, Canada, Germany and several other countries issued travel warnings, and some diplomatic missions restricted staff movements through the airport.
• Schools across Riyadh were ordered to switch to remote learning for a week after the attack.

What happened at Riyadh airport?

GACA said a missile struck King Khalid airport in Riyadh on Saturday, killing 12 people and wounding 309 others, some of them critically. It was the deadliest attack on the kingdom in more than a decade.

The Houthis claimed responsibility on Sunday. Spokesman Yahya Saree said the group carried out multiple operations targeting King Khalid Airport, and warned that Saudi Arabia bore responsibility for any failed interceptions.

A Saudi-led coalition fighting the group said an "unidentified projectile" struck a passenger terminal at the airport, causing a fire, and that Saudi air defences intercepted a missile. On Sunday evening, GACA said a further attack on the airport had caused injuries. Later on Saturday, the coalition said a projectile had fallen near King Fahd International Airport in Dammam in the country's east.

Which other airports and sites have been targeted?

The Houthis have launched a series of missile and drone attacks targeting airports, military installations and oil facilities across Saudi Arabia, including areas near the border with Yemen.

On Monday, attacks on King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz airport in Jizan and Najran International Airport wounded three people and caused material damage, according to GACA. On Tuesday, attacks on Abha airport and Riyadh airport killed three people and wounded 36 others, according to Saudi authorities.

The Houthis also claimed to have targeted an Aramco oil refinery in Rabigh on the Red Sea coast with missiles and drones, saying the attack caused a fire. Saudi authorities did not immediately confirm the claim. The group imposed a maritime embargo on Saudi Arabia in July following the outbreak of the latest round of fighting.

What has been the response from governments?

The US, Canada, Germany and several other countries issued travel warnings, while some diplomatic missions restricted staff movements through the airport. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirmed that an American was among the dead and condemned the attacks. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres condemned the strike, saying attacks against civilians and civilian infrastructure violate international law.

On 5 October, Turkiye, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia agreed to activate "deterrence measures" under a mutual defence pact and rapidly deploy forces to the Gulf kingdom to counter Houthi attacks, weeks after signing the Mecca Strategic Mutual Defence Agreement.

Saudi Arabia has said it will "firmly" retaliate. US President Donald Trump left open the possibility of US military involvement but announced no decision, saying only "We may. We're going to look at it."

What this means for travellers

Flights to and from Saudi Arabia have been cancelled, diverted or suspended by several airlines, and airport operations at Riyadh were suspended after the Saturday attack. Several governments have warned their citizens to avoid the airport, and some diplomatic missions have restricted staff movements through it. Travellers with flights to Saudi destinations should check directly with their airline before departure and follow their government's travel advice.

Fighting continues across several fronts in Yemen, including Taiz, Marib and al-Jawf, and the Houthis have warned of further attacks. No timeline has been announced for the restoration of normal airport operations.