What changed in this update
Riyadh's King Khalid International Airport has already been targeted multiple times this week amid intensified fighting between Yemen-based Houthi rebels and a Saudi-backed coalition.
Event intelligence
Houthi attacks on Saudi airports
7 connected story threads
Current state
Saudi-led coalition forces intercepted a Houthi missile launched toward Riyadh on 14 October, while King Khalid International Airport remains closed after repeated Houthi strikes on 10–11 October killed at least 13 people and injured more than 300. Saudi Arabia has vowed a decisive response and the coalition has struck Houthi targets in Yemen.
Grounded in 11 reports across 5 sources
In this event Yemen's Houthis target King Khalid airport in Saudi Arabia again Trump ‘may’ join Saudi strikes on Houthis after Riyadh airport attack Damage seen inside Saudi airport after third attack this week Houthi Attacks on Riyadh Airport Leave 3 Dead, Saudi Arabia Says Houthis claim attack on Riyadh airport as airlines suspend flights to Saudi capital Houthi Attacks on Saudi Airports Prompt Mass Cancellations
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Source coverage
Source reports
DW
Saudi Arabia suspends operations at Riyadh airport after an attack causes multiple injuries
Riyadh's King Khalid International Airport has already been targeted multiple times this week amid intensified fighting between Yemen-based Houthi rebels and a Saudi-backed coalition.
PBS
News Wrap: Iran says cargo ship sank after hitting a mine in Strait of Hormuz
News24
Iran says ship sank in Hormuz
Iran’s Revolutionary Guards said on Wednesday that a ship caught fire and sank in the Strait of Hormuz because of a mine, while British security firm Vanguard also reported a sinking.
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Al Jazeera
Saudi-led coalition intercepts Houthi missile launched towards Riyadh
Saudi civil defence authority says danger passed after it issued alerts via its national early warning platform.
Al Jazeera
Iran war live: Saudi coalition hits Houthi sites; Aramco office hit in east
A Saudi Aramco building has been hit in Dhahran, following Saudi-led coalition strikes on Houthi 'vital assets' in Yemen
PBS
Former U.S. ambassador on Saudi Arabia's struggle to defend against Houthi attacks
To discuss the escalating war between the Houthis in Yemen and Saudi Arabia, Amna Nawaz spoke with Michael Ratney. He served as U.S. ambassador to Saudi Arabia during the Biden administration and is now a senior adviser at the Center for Strategic and International Studies.
BBC News – World BBC
Missiles intercepted near Riyadh after Saudi coalition hits Yemen fuel depot
The Saudi-led coalition fighting in Yemen struck a fuel depot near the Houthi-controlled capital, Sanaa.
PBS
Why Saudi Arabia's military has struggled to defend the country against Houthi attacks
The kingdom has appeared helpless in the face of barrages of missiles and drones fired by the Houthi rebel group from neighboring Yemen.
DW
Saudi Arabia's military struggle against Houthi attacks
Houthi attacks on airports and energy facilities are putting Saudi Arabia under pressure. Could a Saudi-led international military offensive succeed against the Iran-aligned Houthi militia in Yemen?
Al Jazeera
Houthi missile attack targets Saudi capital Riyadh for third day in a row
Saudi Arabia claims downing ballistic missile fired at Riyadh as the Houthis say they targeted King Khalid airport.
NPR
Deadly Houthi attacks keep the airport closed in Saudi Arabia's largest city
Saudi Arabia vows a serious response to deadly attacks on the kingdom by Iranian-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen.
France 24
Saudi Arabia extends Riyadh aiport suspension, vows deadly response to Houthis strikes
Saudi Arabia extended on Monday the closure of the international airport in Riyadh after announcing the Saudi-led coalition was responding to Houthi combined drone and missile attacks. On Saturday, another attack left 13 dead and over 300 injured. This is one of the worst disruptions to Saudi aviation in years – marking a significant escalation in the war with Yemen's Houthi rebels. Details and analysis by FRANCE 24…
Euronews
UAE calls for stronger Gulf defence as allies back Saudi Arabia after Riyadh airport attacks
Deadly attacks on Riyadh’s airport have brought fresh calls for joint Gulf defence, as Qatar warned the wider conflict was damaging global energy supplies.
Guardian
Saudi Arabia further suspends flights after latest deadly Houthi attack on airport
Energy minister says ‘fear has no place in the Saudi lexicon’ as paramilitary group again breach stretched defences Saudi Arabia was forced to extend the suspension of all flights to and from its main international airport in Riyadh on Monday after a further round of Houthi missile attacks caused more damage and left one dead. The Gulf nation said it was taking the step after Houthi missiles killed 13 people on Satu…
NYTimes – World NYT
Iran Offers to Mediate Between Its Houthi Allies and Saudi Arabia
Iran has long backed the Houthis, a Yemeni militia, and it made the offer as Saudi Arabia contends with increasingly deadly attacks from them.
Al Jazeera
Saudi Arabia vows resilience as Houthi strikes hit Riyadh airport
New footage shows a Houthi strike on Riyadh’s airport as Saudi Arabia reaffirms its resilience.
DW
Saudi Arabia: Deadly Houthi strikes on Riyadh airport fuel fears of wider Middle East conflict
Deadly Houthi attacks on Saudi airports have disrupted flights and raised fears of a wider regional conflict, as the US considers military action.
France 24
Saudi Arabia: Riyadh airport struck again by Yemen's Houthis
A new attack hit Riyadh's international airport on Sunday, a day after another attack on the airport killed at least 12 people and injured over 300. This was the deadliest on Saudi soil in over a decade. Fighting between the Iran-backed Houthis and Saudi-backed Yemeni government forces have been escalating for several weeks. Story by Juliette Brown and Caitlin Brown.
France 24
Live: Saudi Arabia extends suspension of operations at Riyadh airport after deadly Houthi attacks
Saudi Arabia's civil aviation body extended the suspension of operations at Riyadh's international airport Monday following a series of deadly attacks by Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthi rebels over the weekend. The statement announcing the decision did not specify when operations would resume. Follow our liveblog for the latest developments.
NPR
Deadly Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia raise stakes for US
The deadliest attack on a Gulf Arab state since the Iran war began has heightened concerns that the United States could become directly involved in another regional conflict.
Euronews
CCTV shows moment of strike at King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh
CTV footage released by Saudi authorities shows the moment a missile strike hit Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport on October 10. The attack killed at least 13 people and injured hundreds, forcing the suspension of airport operations.
Al Jazeera
Countries warn against travel to Saudi Arabia following Houthi attacks
US, Australia, Canada, Japan, South Korea and New Zealand among countries urging citizens to avoid travel to the kingdom.
Al Jazeera
Saudi Arabia says 1 dead, 11 injured in latest attack on Riyadh airport
Sunday's strike on King Khalid International airport kills a Pakistani national.
France 24
Fresh Houthi strike hits Riyadh airport a day after deadly attack
A fresh Houthi strike hit Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport on Sunday, killing a Pakistani resident and wounding 11, Saudi authorities said. The attack followed a strike that killed at least 12 people and halted airport operations on Saturday. The Iran-backed group threatened further attacks on Saudi Arabia’s transit hubs.
Al Jazeera
Iran urges Saudi Arabia to pursue diplomacy after Houthis escalate attacks
Tehran offers to facilitate talks between Saudi Arabia and Yemen's Houthis following deadly strikes on the kingdom.
Al Jazeera
Pakistani national killed in second Houthi strike on Riyadh airport
Saudi authorities say a Pakistani national was killed and several people injured in a second strike on Riyadh’s Airport.
DW
Saudi Arabia: Second strike kills at least 1 at Riyadh airport
Sunday's strike came as the King Khalid International Airport remained closed after a deadly attack on Saturday, and after a warning from Houthi rebels in Yemen that "worse is yet to come." Dammam airport was also hit.
DW
Saudi Arabia: Second strike kills 11 at Riyadh airport
Sunday's strike came as the King Khalid International Airport remained closed after a deadly attack on Saturday, and after a warning from Houthi rebels in Yemen that "worse is yet to come." Dammam airport was also hit.
Al Jazeera
CCTV shows moment of deadly Houthi strike on Riyadh airport
CCTV footage released by Al Arabiya shows the moment of a Houthi strike on Riyadh’s international airport on Saturday.
BBC News – World BBC
Saudi Arabia's Riyadh airport hit by second Houthi strike in two days
The Yemeni group says it carried out attacks that killed 13 people over the weekend and targeted two airports and oil facilities.
DW
Saudi Arabia: Second strike hits Riyadh airport
Sunday's strike came as the King Khalid International Airport remained closed following a deadly attack on Saturday, and after a warning from Houthi rebels in Yemen that "worse is yet to come."
Guardian
Saudi coalition vows retaliation after deadly Houthi attack on Riyadh airport
Official says coalition will ‘respond firmly’ as Houthis warn people to avoid Saudi airports and US considers intervening Middle East crisis live – latest updates Analysis: attack will force rethink of Trump strategy The Saudi-led coalition in Yemen has vowed to retaliate after a suspected Houthi missile attack on Riyadh airport killed 12 people and wounded more than 300, as Donald Trump said the US could join its m…
Guardian
Houthi attack on Riyadh airport will force rethink of Donald Trump’s strategy
US president’s plan to park the conflicts in Iran and Yemen, while blaming Ukraine for high diesel prices, has unravelled Middle East crisis live - latest updates The reckless missile attack on King Khalid international airport in Riyadh on Saturday did not just export the death and misery inside Yemen to Saudi Arabia, it also left Donald Trump forced to reconsider his diplomatic and political strategy designed to t…
Euronews
Riyadh airport stays shut after deadly attack as Trump says US may join Saudi strikes on Houthis
An attack that killed 12 people has left Riyadh’s airport closed and drawn condemnation from the UN and EU, as the Houthis renew their threats and Washington considers its response.
Al Jazeera
Saudi Arabia vows response over Houthi ‘war crime’ attack on Riyadh airport
A Houthi attack on Riyadh airport killed at least 12 people and injured more than 300.
DW
Yemen's Houthis warn passengers not to use Saudi airports
The warning from the Iran-backed rebels comes a day after a missile attack on Riyadh airport killed 12 people and injured more than 300. The airport will remain closed until at least Sunday night.
Guardian
Middle East crisis live: Houthis warn passengers against using Saudi airport after deadly attack on Riyadh
US president Donald Trump says he is weighing whether the US will join Saudi strikes against the Iran-backed Houthis As you can expect, passengers have been avoiding Saudia Arabia’s main international airport since the major attack yesterday. King Khalid remains closed today. It remains to be seen if operations will continue at other Saudi airports. Continue reading...
France 24
Riyadh airport strike kills 12, Saudi Arabia threatens 'decisive' response
Saudi Arabia vowed to retaliate against Yemen’s Houthi rebels on Sunday after a strike on Riyadh’s international airport killed a dozen people and wounded more than 300, marking the kingdom's deadliest strike in a decade.
France 24
Live: Saudi Arabia vows 'decisive response' after deadly Houthi strike on Riyadh airport
Saudi Arabia vowed to retaliate against Yemen’s Houthi rebels on Sunday after a strike on Riyadh’s international airport killed a dozen people and wounded more than 300, marking the kingdom's deadliest strike in a decade. Follow our liveblog for the latest developments.
Al Jazeera
World condemns deadly Houthi attack on Saudi Arabia’s Riyadh airport
Trump condemns 'terrible' attack and says the US is evaluating whether to join Saudi Arabia's attacks on the Houthis.
Al Jazeera
Twelve killed, more than 300 injured in Riyadh airport attack
Saudi Arabia has confirmed at least 12 people were killed and more than 300 injured after Houthi fighters struck Riyadh.
NPR – World NPR
Attack on Riyadh airport killed 12 people and wounded over 300 more, Saudi authorities say
Saudi authorities say the latest attack on the international airport in the capital, Riyadh, has killed 12 people and injured over 300. Their statement says the dead on Saturday included four Saudi citizens as well as two Bangladeshi nationals, a Palestinian, a U.S. citizen, an Egyptian, a Jordanian, a Syrian and a Sudanese. It said some of those injured were in critical condition. The attack — the latest of several…
ABC News
Iran live updates: 12 killed, 300 injured at 'brutal' attack on Saudi airport
A dozen people were killed Saturday during a "brutal" attack at the King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, the Saudi General Authority of Civil Aviation said.
DW
Saudi Arabia: 12 killed, hundreds injured in Riyadh airport attack
Officials said at least 12 people were killed in a strike on King Khalid International Airport in the Saudi capital, Riyadh. The airport had already been targeted multiple times this week.
France 24
Riyadh airport suspends operations after attack leaves multiple people wounded
Saudi authorities on Saturday said that they had suspended operations at Riyadh's King Khalid International Airport after a new attack there left multiple people wounded. An attack on the airport by the Houthis on Thursday killed three people and damaged a plane, though the Iran-backed group did not announce any new attacks on Saturday.
NYTimes – World NYT
Saudi Arabia’s Riyadh Airport Attacked Again, After Days of Houthi Strikes
Flights were diverted from the airport in the capital of Saudi Arabia, which has faced repeated deadly attacks from the Iran-backed militia in Yemen.
Guardian
Twelve killed and hundreds injured in Houthi attack at Riyadh airport
Donald Trump says he is evaluating whether the US should join Saudi strikes against the Iran-backed Yemeni rebels Yemen’s Houthis have launched a missile attack on Riyadh’s international airport in Saudi Arabia, killing at least 12 people and leaving hundreds wounded, the Saudi Civil Aviation Authority has said. Operations at King Khalid international airport in Riyadh were suspended, it said, as more than a dozen a…
Euronews
12 killed and more than 300 wounded in attack on Riyadh airport
Turki Al-Maliki, a spokesperson for the Saudi-led coalition forces, said that the attack had been carried out by Yemen's Houthi rebels and that it had targeted a passenger terminal.
DW
Blast reported at Saudi Arabia's Riyadh Airport
Riyadh's King Khalid International Airport has already been targeted multiple times this week amid intensified fighting between Yemen-based Houthi rebels and a Saudi-backed coalition.
