Omanghana
King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh partially resumed flights on October 25, 2026, following a two-week suspension caused by deadly drone and missile attacks attributed to Yemen’s Houthi movement.
Under the reopening arrangements, Terminal 1 is handling domestic services, while Terminal 2 is accommodating selected international flights operated by Saudi national carriers.
Limited departures have resumed, but many domestic and international services remain cancelled or disrupted.
The airport suspended operations after an October 10 attack that reportedly killed 13 people and injured more than 300. The strike was described as the deadliest Houthi attack in Saudi Arabia in more than a decade.
The reopening was followed within hours by renewed hostilities. Saudi forces said they intercepted missiles and drones, while residents in Riyadh reported explosions and emergency security alerts.
The Iran-aligned Houthi movement claimed responsibility for the fresh attacks and warned commercial airlines against using the airport, declaring it a military target. That declaration represents the group’s position and does not establish the civilian facility’s status under international law.
The deteriorating security situation also prompted an alert from the United States mission, which ordered non-essential personnel to leave and required special authorization for US government staff seeking to use Saudi airports.
The partial restoration of flights remains overshadowed by uncertainty over security and further disruption. Airport authorities and aviation agencies have urged passengers to confirm their flight status directly with their airlines before travelling to the airport.
Source: Omanghana
