Saudi Arabia investigated why the Houthi terror group was able to bypass security measures and strike the capital’s international airport twice this week, in addition to launching several ballistic missile attacks, as another round of fighting erupted in the region.
A Saudi air strike in Yemen on Tuesday, following reports of fresh Houthi attacks on Monday, is set to keep King Khalid International Airport (KIIA) closed until October 17.
Riyadh Airport Closed
HIMARS Rocket. Image Credit: Creative Commons.
Tennessee Army National Guard Soldiers with Alpha Battery, 1-181st Field Artillery Regiment conduct a training exercise using the M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) at Camp Shelby, Mississippi, June 9. The unit’s annual training enhances battalion readiness, focuses on mission-essential tasks and ensures Soldiers are proficient in critical skills. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Sgt. Grayson Cavaliere)
Saudi authorities say the airport would remain closed to assess safety, while those wishing to travel were “advised to make alternative arrangements.” According to a notice to pilots seen by Reuters, the closure would last until 9 pm GMT Saturday.
The attacks, which began with a strike on a departure hall that killed 13 people and injured more than 300, saw another strike on Sunday that killed one person and injured 11.
On Monday, Riyadh said it had intercepted ballistic missiles while the Houthis claimed to have targeted the airport again and an air defense base in Khamis Mushait.
The attack’s impact rippled through the region: Reuters noted that 46.4 percent of scheduled flights in Saudi Arabia were canceled on Monday, while Lufthansa halted all service to Riyadh through October 16, Air France-KLM cut services through the end of October, and Delta postponed its launch of services to Riyadh until March 2027.
Warning System Failed
Two local officials told the Associated Press that Saudi Arabia was looking into how drones cleared the way for cruise and ballistic missiles to hit the airport, 600 miles away from Yemen.
Reuters meanwhile revealed that Saudi’s civilian attack warning system failed to issue public alerts before four attacks in the Saudi capital last week, with the last alert sent on September 29. Alerts were resumed on Monday.
Saudi academic Sultan Alamer noted the move to reassure the public and other governments after recent attacks as the government launched an all-out military campaign. “They want to have it both ways: to launch a military operation and at the same time try to give confidence to the population and external stakeholders,” he added.
Former US Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Michael Ratney, meanwhile, noted that the silence “creates the very nervousness they are trying to avoid,” adding that the Saudis had not publicly responded to the warning system failures.
Saudi Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman said on Monday at the WPC Energy Congress that “our gathering here does not mean the risk is gone.”
Gulf States Call for Unity
The Houthi rebels have escalated attacks after the Saudis announced their backing for the internationally recognized government’s military campaign to roll back Houthi advances in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, a critical shipping route.
On Sunday, the rebels warned that if the Saudi-led campaign continued, “worse is yet to come” as their foreign ministry once again warned international airlines that most Saudi airports were not safe.
Meanwhile, Houthi-run media outlets reported overnight air strikes on Kamaran island, Hodeida region and al-Jawf province by the Saudi military, with no immediate comment from Riyadh.
The rebels’ health ministry on Monday, meanwhile, accused the Saudis of attacking al-Jawf, killing nine people, including children, with the reports not immediately confirmed.
The heightened tensions threaten the kingdom’s efforts to attract investment, as BP said it tried to attend the Riyadh energy conference but couldn’t because of the attacks and travel restrictions.
Trump Warns
President Trump on Monday noted that the Houthis were “misbehaving very badly” and, when asked if the US would come to the defense of Saudi Arabia, said, “you’ll find out soon enough.” No immediate reports of fresh attacks.
United Arab Emirates called for a unified Gulf response as the country’s presidential advisor Anwar Gargash warned that attacks on Saudi Arabia “undermine the security of the UAE and all Gulf states.” Meanwhile, Iran, which has backed the Houthis, called for a diplomatic solution to the crisis. Foreign ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said Tehran was ready “to facilitate dialogue between the warring parties.”
Egypt took a tougher stance on the region’s escalating tensions, with Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty noting on Tuesday that “there is no justification for these attacks and they cannot be accepted.” Despite offers of diplomatic help from regional allies, with the exception of Iran, none have been able to stop the fighting, which threatens to intensify with the ongoing closure of Riyadh airport, fresh Saudi airstrikes in Yemen, and Houthi warnings of further missile attacks.
About the Author: Georgia Gilholy
Georgia Gilholy is a journalist based in the United Kingdom who has been published in Newsweek, The Times of Israel, and the Spectator. Gilholy writes about international politics, culture, and education.
