Three people have been killed in the latest wave of Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia this week, which have targeted airports in the capital, Riyadh, and the south of the kingdom.
The kingdom’s General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) confirmed the attacks, which took place on Tuesday and Wednesday, leaving three dead and 36 injured. Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi rebels have claimed responsibility for the attacks, saying drones struck King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, while Abha International Airport in the south was hit with drones and ballistic missiles. Material damage to the airports is being assessed.
Earlier in the week, three more people were injured in attacks on King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz International Airport in Jazan and Najran International Airport in the southwest of the country.
The attacks mark a serious escalation in a renewed campaign of missile and drone strikes against Saudi Arabia that began in July. Airports, cities, military installations and energy infrastructure have all been targeted during the latest round of hostilities, affecting locations in Riyadh, Jeddah, Abha, Jazan, Najran, Taif and Yanbu.
Following the attack on King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh on Wednesday morning, flights were suspended for more than an hour, with knock-on disruption continuing into Thursday; the airport’s website is currently offline. The US embassy in Riyadh has warned that the attacks could lead to further flight cancellations. “US citizens should be aware of potential flight cancellations, airspace closures and travel disruptions,” the embassy said. “We recommend checking your flight departure status directly with the airline and with the airport.”
This article was updated with the latest information on Thursday, 8 October 2026
Are flights to Saudi Arabia operating normally?
Following the strike on Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport on Wednesday morning, flights were suspended for more than an hour. Knock-on delays and cancellations are rolling into Thursday, with flight monitoring website Flightradar24 reporting a high level of disruption.
Flights to and from Jeddah are operating as normal, but the situation is more serious in the south. The country’s aviation regulator confirmed on Tuesday, 6 October, that King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz International Airport in Jazan and Najran International Airport were hit in attacks on Monday evening. GACA said emergency teams responded immediately and that authorities were assessing the damage and taking measures to protect passengers, staff and civil aviation operations.
Travellers using airports in Saudi Arabia should check directly with their airline before travelling.
The US embassy in Riyadh has warned that the attacks could lead to further flight cancellations, while the UK Foreign Office warns that authorities may temporarily close airports near the Saudi-Yemen border. More broadly, it advises British nationals in the Middle East to be prepared for possible flight cancellations, periodic airspace closures and other disruption.
What happened at Saudi Arabia’s airports this week?
The Houthis announced a series of missile and drone operations against Saudi Arabia on Monday, 5, Tuesday, 6 and Wednesday, 7 October. King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, Abha International Airport, King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz International Airport in Jizan and Najran International Airport were all targeted in drone and missile attacks, leaving three dead and 39 people injured.
Source: www.cntravellerme.com
