Date: October 10, 2026
Reporter: Emilly Jordan
A fresh attack on King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, injured several people and forced authorities to suspend airport operations on Saturday, deepening disruptions to air travel as tensions escalate between Saudi Arabia and Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthi movement.
Saudi Arabia’s civil aviation authority confirmed that several people were wounded in the incident. Witnesses described an explosion inside the airport, injured travellers on the ground and damage to part of the terminal ceiling near a departure gate. More than a dozen ambulances were seen rushing toward the facility as emergency services responded.
The latest attack occurred amid a series of strikes against Saudi Arabia this week. Two earlier attacks on the Riyadh airport had already left four people dead and caused significant damage, including damage to an aircraft. Saturday’s incident further heightened concerns about the security of civilian aviation and the ability of Saudi Arabia’s air-defence systems to protect critical infrastructure.
Reuters reported that Saudi Arabia’s early-warning system did not issue an alert before Saturday’s attack. An eyewitness said an explosion was followed by scenes of injured people inside the airport, while a traveller who was wounded in the incident reported seeing an object move across the sky before part of the ceiling near a departure gate collapsed. Authorities had not immediately released a full account of the circumstances surrounding the strike.
No group had publicly claimed responsibility for Saturday’s attack at the time of the Reuters report. However, the incident came amid escalating missile strikes by Yemen’s Houthi movement against Saudi targets. The Houthis, who are aligned with Iran, have intensified their campaign as Saudi-backed Yemeni government forces pursue military operations against them.
The Houthis have warned airlines to avoid Saudi airspace, declaring it a zone of military operations following the Yemeni government’s offensive earlier this month. The warning has added to concerns among international airlines, passengers and foreign governments about the risks of operating flights in the region.
The airport shutdown caused widespread disruption to flights serving the Saudi capital. Flight-tracking service Flightradar24 showed that flights heading to Riyadh had been cancelled or diverted, leaving airport operations severely restricted.
Kuwait Airways announced cancellations of flights to and from Riyadh because of the security situation and the airport’s closure. Etihad Airways and Qatar Airways had also cancelled multiple services between their respective hubs and the Saudi capital, with some cancellations extending into Monday.
The disruptions followed earlier suspensions by several airlines after the previous attacks. Carriers have been reassessing operations as the security situation develops, while passengers have been advised to check directly with their airlines before travelling to the airport.
The United States Embassy in Riyadh said it was aware of the attacks and strongly recommended that American citizens avoid the airport and surrounding areas. The British and Irish embassies also acknowledged a serious incident, while the Canadian Embassy said ongoing military activity had affected airport operations.
The attack also prompted renewed questions about whether the United States would become directly involved in Saudi military operations against the Houthis. Speaking to reporters outside the White House, U.S. President Donald Trump said Washington was considering the possibility of joining Saudi strikes.
“We may. We're going to look at it,” Trump said, adding that his administration had only just learned of the latest attack and would make a decision quickly. His remarks did not amount to an announcement that the United States had decided to enter the campaign.
The escalating violence is creating challenges for Saudi Arabia as it prepares to host major energy and investment conferences expected to attract international business leaders, investors and government representatives. Organisers said on Saturday that the events would proceed as planned and sought to reassure participants about security arrangements.
The conferences are important to Saudi Arabia’s efforts to attract foreign investment and expand its economy beyond dependence on oil. Continued attacks on transportation infrastructure could complicate those efforts by disrupting business travel and raising concerns among companies considering investment in the kingdom.
The security situation also reflects the wider regional consequences of the conflict in Yemen. Saudi Arabia has long supported the internationally recognised Yemeni government in its conflict with the Houthis. The latest offensive by Saudi-backed forces has coincided with intensified Houthi attacks on Saudi territory, increasing the risk of further confrontation.
For airlines, the immediate priority is passenger and crew safety. The suspension of airport operations and the cancellation or diversion of flights demonstrate how attacks on civilian transport infrastructure can affect international travel even when responsibility for a specific incident has not yet been established.
The full extent of the damage and the circumstances of Saturday’s attack remained under investigation. Saudi authorities had confirmed injuries and the suspension of operations, but had not provided a complete public account of the weapon used or identified those responsible.
With earlier attacks having caused fatalities and aircraft damage, the latest incident has added pressure on Saudi authorities to strengthen airport security and protect critical infrastructure. The prospect of greater U.S. involvement has also raised the stakes, although Washington had not announced a final decision on joining Saudi strikes.
The immediate outlook for flights to Riyadh will depend on security assessments and decisions by Saudi aviation authorities and individual airlines. As regional tensions continue, travellers and international businesses face uncertainty over when regular air services can safely resume and whether further attacks will cause additional disruption.