Date: October 11, 2026
Reporter: Joseph Wilson
RIYADH, Saudi Arabia — Saudi Arabia extended the closure of its main international airport in Riyadh and moved schools across the capital to remote learning on Sunday as security concerns intensified following a deadly missile attack that killed 12 people and injured more than 300 others.
The measures came as Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi rebels threatened further attacks on Saudi airports, raising fears of a wider regional confrontation involving Saudi Arabia, Iran, the United States and other countries.
The attack on King Khalid International Airport on Saturday marked a major escalation in the conflict and increased pressure on Saudi authorities to strengthen the protection of civilian infrastructure. The airport remained closed on Sunday, with flight-tracking service Flightradar24 reporting that the closure had been extended until at least 9 p.m. local time.
Saudi authorities also announced that schools in Riyadh would move to online instruction until the end of the week, with students, teachers and administrative staff affected by the temporary suspension of in-person classes.
The developments highlight the growing threat to civilian transportation, education and economic activity as fighting between the Saudi-led coalition and the Houthis intensifies.
Deadly Airport Attack Claims 12 Lives
Saudi authorities said Saturday’s attack on the Riyadh airport complex killed 12 people and wounded more than 300, with some of the injured reported to be in critical condition.
The victims included four Saudi citizens, two Bangladeshi nationals and citizens or nationals of the United States, Jordan, Palestine, Syria, Sudan and Egypt.
Among those killed was a 28-year-old Egyptian flight attendant, Azza Ramzy, who worked for Saudi airline Flynas, according to Egyptian state television.
The attack struck a complex containing Terminals 3 and 4, which serve domestic flights, according to a regional official who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity.
The airport had already experienced earlier attacks during the same week. The Houthis had claimed responsibility for previous strikes that killed three Saudis, including a pilot, while another attack reportedly caused significant damage to a commercial aircraft parked on the airport tarmac.
The latest incident has heightened concerns about the vulnerability of civilian aviation facilities in the region.
Saudi Arabia has accused the Houthis of carrying out the attacks, although the group did not immediately claim responsibility for Saturday’s deadly strike.
Houthis Threaten Further Attacks
The Houthi movement issued fresh warnings on Sunday, urging airlines, travellers and others to take its threats against Saudi airports seriously.
The group has acknowledged targeting Saudi airports and oil installations and warned that additional strikes could follow.
Brigadier General Yahya Saree, the Houthis’ military spokesman, urged people to take the warnings seriously, according to reports carried by The Associated Press.
The threats have raised concerns that the group could expand its campaign against Saudi infrastructure, potentially disrupting international aviation, oil transportation and commercial activity.
Saudi Arabia is a major global energy producer, and Riyadh is an important centre for government, finance, business and international travel. Sustained attacks on its infrastructure could therefore have consequences extending beyond the kingdom’s borders.
The latest escalation follows a major Saudi-led military offensive against the Houthis, launched in support of Yemeni government forces seeking to reverse recent rebel gains.
The Houthis have responded with attacks against Saudi airports, military facilities and oil infrastructure, opening a new and increasingly dangerous front in the wider regional conflict.
United States Considers Joining Saudi Military Campaign
The attack has also raised the possibility of deeper American involvement in the fighting.
U.S. President Donald Trump said on Saturday that Washington was considering whether to join Saudi Arabia’s military campaign against the Houthis.
“We’re going to look at it,” Trump said, indicating that a decision could come quickly. He also said he planned to speak with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the kingdom’s de facto leader.
An American military intervention would mark a significant expansion of Washington’s involvement in the conflict.
The Houthis have maintained close ties with Iran and have become an important part of Tehran’s regional network of allied armed groups. Their attacks on Saudi Arabia are taking place amid a wider war involving Iran and the United States, which has further complicated diplomatic efforts to restore stability.
Washington’s decision could influence the next phase of the conflict, particularly if American forces join Saudi strikes against Houthi positions in Yemen.
However, additional military action could also prompt retaliation against Saudi or American interests, increasing the risk of further regional escalation.
Conflict Threatens Vital Shipping Routes
The growing confrontation has implications for international shipping and energy markets, particularly because of the Houthis’ position near the Bab el-Mandeb Strait.
The waterway connects the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden and serves as a major passage for commercial vessels travelling between Europe and Asia.
The Houthis’ ability to threaten shipping through the strait gives the group a potential means of disrupting international trade beyond attacks on Saudi territory.
The threat is particularly significant because maritime traffic through the Red Sea has already faced repeated security challenges in recent years.
Further disruption could increase shipping costs, delay deliveries and place additional pressure on energy supplies.
The situation is also complicated by tensions around the Strait of Hormuz, another critical waterway through which a substantial share of the world's oil supply normally passes.
If attacks intensify around both routes, energy exporters, shipping companies and importing countries could face greater uncertainty.
Saudi Arabia’s position as a major oil producer makes the security of its infrastructure especially important to international markets.
Saudi Arabia Reports Civilian Casualties From Airstrikes in Yemen
The fighting has also inflicted casualties in Yemen.
The Houthi-run Health Ministry said that 91 people had been killed and 168 injured in strikes by the Saudi-led coalition over a five-week period. The ministry said women and children accounted for 60% of those killed.
Those figures have not been independently verified.
The Saudi-led coalition has been providing air support to Yemeni government forces seeking to regain territory from the Houthis, whose recent advances have strengthened their position along the Red Sea.
The renewed offensive has ended a period of relative calm that followed a 2022 ceasefire. Fighting began to intensify again in July after the Houthis accused Saudi Arabia of firing on Sanaa airport while an Iranian aircraft was attempting to land.
The dispute revived tensions surrounding the Saudi-led blockade, which has severely restricted movement and access to Houthi-controlled areas.
The current escalation illustrates the difficulty of containing the conflict in Yemen, where military operations, regional rivalries and competing political interests have repeatedly undermined efforts to establish a lasting settlement.
International Leaders Condemn the Attack
The deadly strike on Riyadh airport drew condemnation from governments and international organizations.
United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres condemned the attack, emphasizing that assaults against civilians and civilian infrastructure violate international law and must stop.
Hans Grundberg, the UN special envoy for Yemen, described the attacks on civilian airports in Saudi Arabia as a grave escalation that threatens regional security and complicates peace efforts.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen also condemned the attacks, warning that strikes against critical transport and energy infrastructure could destabilize the region.
Canada joined the international condemnation. Prime Minister Mark Carney described the attacks as abhorrent and said there could be no justification for targeting civilian infrastructure.
Governments across the Middle East and Asia, including Egypt, Qatar, Pakistan, Jordan, Oman and India, also expressed concern over the attacks and voiced support for Saudi Arabia’s security and sovereignty.
The international response reflects growing fears that continued attacks could draw additional countries into the conflict.
Airport Closure Disrupts Travel and Business
The closure of King Khalid International Airport has disrupted a major transportation hub serving Riyadh and connecting Saudi Arabia with destinations around the world.
Airport closures can affect international travellers, airline schedules, cargo operations and business activity, particularly when restrictions extend beyond a few hours.
Saudi authorities have not provided a complete public assessment of the financial impact of the latest incident.
The security situation has also complicated preparations for a major international energy gathering scheduled to take place in Riyadh.
The five-day WPC Energy Congress was expected to attract more than 70 ministers, hundreds of company executives and representatives of over 25 international energy organizations.
The event was still scheduled to proceed on Sunday, according to Saudi authorities, although it was unclear whether all participants would attend in person or virtually.
A ministerial meeting of the International Energy Forum was also expected to go ahead, with its plenary session scheduled to take place behind closed doors.
The continued organization of major energy meetings demonstrates Saudi Arabia’s effort to maintain economic and diplomatic activity despite the deteriorating security environment.
Saudi Arabia Seeks to Contain a Wider Regional Crisis
The latest attacks present Saudi Arabia with a difficult security challenge.
The kingdom must protect its civilian population, airports and energy infrastructure while deciding how far to pursue military operations against the Houthis.
The group’s ability to launch attacks across borders means that even successful military operations in Yemen may not immediately eliminate the threat to Saudi territory.
At the same time, a major escalation could increase the danger to commercial shipping and critical energy facilities, with consequences for countries far beyond the Middle East.
An expanded American military role could strengthen Saudi Arabia’s campaign, but it could also encourage further retaliation and deepen the wider confrontation involving Iran and its regional allies.
Diplomatic efforts to end the broader U.S.-Iran conflict have shown little progress, while the renewed fighting between Saudi-backed forces and the Houthis has made the situation more complicated.
For civilians, the immediate consequences include loss of life, disrupted travel, school closures and growing uncertainty about the safety of everyday activities.
A Critical Moment for Regional Security
Saudi Arabia’s decision to extend the airport closure and move Riyadh schools online reflects the seriousness of the threat following the deadly attack.
The kingdom is confronting an increasingly complex security environment in which civilian airports, oil installations, shipping routes and other critical infrastructure have become potential targets.
The coming days will be important in determining whether the conflict remains concentrated in Yemen and Saudi Arabia or expands through greater American involvement and additional retaliation.
For now, the immediate priorities are protecting civilians, restoring safe aviation operations and preventing further attacks on essential infrastructure.
The international community has called for restraint, but the combination of renewed Saudi military operations, Houthi threats and uncertainty over Washington’s next move leaves the region facing a heightened risk of further escalation.
Source: Global News