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Riyadh airport reopens as Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia persist

Saudi Arabia's main airport resumed operations on Sunday after a two-week closure caused by Houthi strikes, even as the Iran-backed militia continued launching missiles and drones at the kingdom.

26 October 2026Tagblick Newsdesk

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Archive photo: Riyadh airport reopens as Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia persist — Archive photoPhoto: yeowatzup · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 2.0

Riyadh's King Khalid International Airport opened terminals 1 and 2 for domestic and international flights on Sunday, marking the resumption of operations after a closure spanning two weeks. The airport's website displayed scheduled arrivals from cities including Dubai, Paris and Cairo, indicating the renewal of regular service to the facility.

On Saturday and into Sunday morning, air defence systems intercepted multiple aerial threats aimed at Saudi Arabia. According to coalition spokesman Brigadier General Turki Al-Maliki, two ballistic missiles launched by the Houthi militia towards the cities of Taif and Yanbu were destroyed, and a drone was intercepted and destroyed in the Eastern Province. The Saudi Civil Defence issued warnings through its Early Warning Platform for potential incoming aerial threats across multiple areas including Riyadh, Najran, Wadi Al-Dawasir, Jeddah and Yanbu.

Explosions were heard in the Saudi capital early on Sunday, occurring as the airport prepared to resume international flights. The timing of the renewed attacks coincided with the reopening announcement, underscoring the continued military pressure on the country's infrastructure from the Houthi group based in Yemen.

Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree characterised King Khalid International Airport as unsafe for travellers and staff, according to reports. The group has maintained that the airport remains a legitimate military target, signalling the likelihood of further attack attempts despite the facility's reopening.

The closure and reopening of Riyadh airport occurred against a backdrop of intensifying cross-border attacks by the Houthi militia. According to one source, the recent escalation has disrupted a UN-brokered truce in Yemen that had largely held since 2022.

Beyond strikes on Saudi Arabian territory, the Houthi group also targeted locations within Yemen itself. According to reports, missiles from the militia struck several targets in Yemen, including Aden airport and a coastguard base in that city.

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