Houthi Missile Attacks Put Riyadh Airport on Alert as Airlines Suspend Saudi Flights

Houthi fighters launched another missile attack on King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh on Tuesday, taking advantage of what the source describes as weaknesses in Saudi Arabia’s air defence system. No casualties were reported at the airport because aircraft movements had been suspended, but Saudi Arabia has not confirmed the attack.
The Houthis also claimed to have targeted the Khamis Mushait Air Base in Saudi Arabia and carried out attacks on Saudi border cities. Meanwhile, reports indicate that Houthi fighters are tightening their siege of Taiz, Yemen’s third-largest city, in a parallel escalation of the ground war against government forces.
Amid the fighting, Iran has proposed organising talks between the Houthis and Saudi Arabia.
Riyadh airport, which has reportedly faced six air attacks in seven days, is expected to remain closed throughout the week, until October 18. The decision to shut the airport followed a Houthi attack on Saturday that reportedly killed 13 passengers and injured more than 300 people.
According to Reuters, Jeddah airport, Saudi Arabia’s second-busiest airport, has also suspended most flight operations for security reasons. Indian airlines, including Air India, Air India Express and Akasa Air, along with other carriers, have decided to suspend their services to Saudi Arabia until October 17.
Etihad Airways and Qatar Airways joined the growing list of international airlines suspending services on Tuesday. Some carriers, including Air France-KLM, have indicated that they may halt operations until the end of October.
The widespread flight suspensions have raised concerns about potential damage to Saudi Arabia’s aviation sector and its tourism industry, both of which have attracted significant investment in recent years.
Alongside its aerial attacks on Saudi Arabia, the Houthi movement is engaged in intense ground fighting against government forces inside Yemen.
The Yemeni government forces, which have claimed to have launched an operation to reclaim lost coastal areas, are now facing increasing difficulty in defending Taiz, the country’s third-largest city, from advancing Houthi fighters.
According to the Associated Press (AP), Houthi fighters are gradually encircling Taiz, raising the risk that the city could be cut off from other urban centres. The situation has left approximately one million residents fearful, as escaping from the mountainous city has become increasingly difficult amid the fighting.
After enduring nearly 15 years of civil war, Yemen’s population is once again confronting the prospect of being trapped in areas for years while struggling with shortages of essential supplies.
Residents of Taiz experienced similar conditions in 2014 and have now begun stockpiling essential goods in anticipation of a possible siege. With the airport closures disrupting international air travel and ground fighting threatening access to one of Yemen’s largest cities, the conflict is creating mounting challenges for civilian movement and regional connectivity.