Saudi Arabia shuts Riyadh airport after fresh Houthi missile attack

Saudi Arabia has temporarily shut down King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh following a missile attack attributed to Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi rebels on Saturday, October 10, 2026.

The attack reportedly struck a passenger terminal, injured several people and forced the evacuation of parts of the airport, disrupting domestic and international flights.

According to The Wall Street Journal, Terminal 3 suffered a direct missile hit, prompting emergency responders to dispatch ambulances and helicopters to transport injured passengers to King Fahad Hospital in Riyadh.

Saudi Arabia’s General Authority of Civil Aviation confirmed that airport operations had been temporarily suspended while officials assessed the damage and safety of the facilities.

The Associated Press also reported that the strike affected passenger terminals and caused multiple injuries.

The attack comes just two days after another round of Houthi strikes on Riyadh’s airport killed three Saudi nationals, including an airline pilot, according to Al Jazeera.

The latest incident has further disrupted air travel across the kingdom.

Reuters reported that several airlines, including Kuwait Airways, Etihad Airways and Qatar Airways, cancelled or diverted flights following the attack.

Meanwhile, the European Union Aviation Safety Agency had already expanded its warning against flying over Saudi Arabian airspace because of the increasing threat from Houthi missiles and drones.

The attacks come amid renewed fighting between Houthi forces and the Saudi-backed Yemeni government, raising concerns about regional security and the safety of civilian aviation.

Although the Houthis have claimed responsibility for earlier strikes, Saudi authorities had not publicly identified those responsible for Saturday’s attack in their initial statement.