Houthis Warn Airlines, Travellers to Avoid Saudi Airports After Deadly Riyadh Attack

Yemen’s Houthi movement has warned airlines, passengers and airport workers to avoid Saudi Arabian airports and airspace following a deadly attack on Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport that killed 12 people and injured more than 300, according to Saudi authorities.

In a statement published on Sunday, October 11, Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree said Saudi airports were vulnerable to further attacks and had become operational targets for the group. He exempted airports serving the holy cities of Mecca and Medina from the warning.

The warning came a day after Saturday’s attack forced the temporary suspension of operations at King Khalid International Airport. Saudi authorities said the 12 people killed included four Saudi nationals and citizens of Bangladesh, the United States, Jordan, Palestine, Syria, Sudan and Egypt. More than 300 people were reported injured, with some in critical condition.

The Saudi-led coalition supporting Yemen’s internationally recognised government blamed the Iran-backed Houthis for the attack, describing it as a major escalation. The Houthis have threatened further action against Saudi Arabia, citing Riyadh’s increased military involvement in Yemen. However, reports have distinguished the group’s latest warning from a formal claim of responsibility for Saturday’s deadly strike.

The attack is part of a wider escalation in the conflict between the Houthis and Saudi-backed Yemeni government forces. Saudi Arabia has increased military operations against the movement after Houthi forces seized strategic territory along Yemen’s Red Sea coast.

The latest violence has raised serious concerns for civilian aviation. The European Union Aviation Safety Agency expanded its advisory on Saudi airspace earlier in the week, warning that recent attacks demonstrated the Houthis’ ability to strike targets deeper inside the kingdom, including Riyadh.

Several airlines had already suspended or adjusted services to Saudi airports amid the growing security risks. These included Air India, flydubai, Lufthansa Group and Pakistan International Airlines, according to the Associated Press. The extent and duration of individual suspensions varied.

Saudi authorities temporarily halted operations at King Khalid International Airport while damage and safety assessments were carried out. The closure was expected to continue until at least Sunday evening, according to flight-tracking service Flightradar24, although reopening arrangements remained subject to official updates.

The Saudi-led coalition also reported that a projectile had fallen near King Fahd International Airport in Dammam, in the kingdom’s Eastern Province, and that a drone had been intercepted in the area. These developments heightened concerns that the threat could extend beyond the capital.

US President Donald Trump said Washington was considering whether to join Saudi strikes against the Houthis. Such a move could widen the conflict further, which has become entangled with the broader regional war involving Iran, the United States and Israel.

Despite the security situation, Saudi officials said a major international energy conference scheduled in Riyadh was still expected to proceed. Authorities also announced a temporary shift to remote learning for schools across the country as a precaution.

The Houthi warning adds to pressure on airlines, aviation regulators and travellers to reassess the risks of flying through the region. Airlines and passengers have been urged to monitor official advisories and flight updates as the security situation develops.