Houthi Missile Attacks Keep Riyadh Airport Closed Through October 17

Saudi authorities kept King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh closed through at least 2100 GMT on October 17 after additional ballistic missile attacks claimed by Yemen’s Houthi forces. The Saudi military said it intercepted and destroyed three missiles on Monday, one over Riyadh and two over Khamis Mushait. The Houthis said they targeted the airport and a military base.

The airport has been largely shut since a Saturday strike that killed 13 people and wounded more than 300. A Sunday attack killed one more person and injured nearly a dozen. Saturday’s dead included four Saudi citizens and nationals of Bangladesh, the United States, Egypt, Jordan, Syria, Palestine, and Sudan. An Indian national later died of wounds from the earlier attack.

The Saudi civil aviation authority said operations were suspended to complete safety and readiness checks. A Notice to Airmen confirmed the extended closure. Airlines cancelled flights; some suspended service until later in the month. Cirium data showed near-total cancellation rates on the first full day of the shutdown.

Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Saree claimed responsibility for the weekend strikes and warned airlines against using Saudi airports. The group has also claimed hits on fuel tanks and a parked Airbus A320. Saudi state television released CCTV footage from Saturday showing passengers in a terminal as smoke and debris fell after the impact.

The attacks form part of an escalation in the Yemen conflict. Saudi-backed Yemeni government forces launched an offensive against the Houthis in September. The Houthis, backed by Iran, have responded with long-range strikes on Saudi territory. Riyadh has not confirmed every claimed hit. The death toll from the airport strikes this week exceeds 20.

Oil executives were dropped from some event schedules in the capital. The kingdom proceeded with the World Petroleum Congress despite the attacks. Brent crude remained above $105 a barrel amid supply concerns.

Saudi defence systems intercepted several incoming missiles, but the repeated strikes on a major civilian airport show gaps in coverage for a large capital. The airport serves a city of roughly eight million people and is the kingdom’s second-busiest after Jeddah. Radar and communications equipment were damaged in earlier strikes; runways required inspection.

No new casualty figures were released for Monday’s intercepted missiles. The Houthis have vowed to continue targeting transit hubs they describe as part of the battlefield. Saudi officials have said the kingdom will respond but have not detailed the form of that response.

International airlines continue to adjust schedules. The extended closure disrupts connections across the Gulf and beyond. The Saudi civil aviation authority has not set a firm reopening date beyond the current NOTAM.