What happened
A fresh strike by Yemen's Houthi group hit King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh on Sunday, killing one Pakistani resident and wounding 11 others, according to Dawn. The strike caused a fire at the airport, while Saudi air defenses intercepted a missile in the surrounding area. This incident followed an attack the previous day that caused significant casualties and forced officials to suspend airport operations. For specific flight schedules and detailed restoration timelines, information was not specified in the source; please check the official notice.
Key facts
- According to Saudi Arabia's civil aviation authority, Sunday's strike resulted in one fatality and 11 injuries.
- The attack on Saturday led to the deaths of citizens from Saudi Arabia, Bangladesh, the United States, Egypt, India, Jordan, Syria, Palestine, and Sudan, along with 309 wounded individuals.
- Flight tracking service Flightradar24 reported that airport operations were extendedly shut down through Monday.
- Dawn reported additional Houthi attacks targeting Dammam airport and Khamis Mushait, leading to flight delays and intercepted drones and missiles.
- International leaders and the United Nations condemned the strikes, while several foreign embassies advised their citizens to avoid the airport or shelter in place.
Why it matters
According to Dawn, the recent strikes represent a sharp escalation in the ongoing Yemen war, where a Saudi-led coalition has supported the recognized Yemeni government against the Houthis since 2015. Security analyst Thomas Juneau stated that defending against all incoming attacks is difficult due to Saudi Arabia's vast geography. The Houthi group declared that it intends to keep targeting Saudi transit hubs, aiming to mirror the aviation restrictions imposed on the Houthi-controlled airport in Sanaa.
Source: Dawn - Home · Published October 12, 2026 · Photo by Brett Jordan on Unsplash