Houthi Missile Strikes Keep Riyadh Airport Closed as Saudi Coalition Responds

King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh stayed closed on October 13 after repeated missile and projectile strikes by Yemen's Houthi forces over the preceding days. The attacks have killed at least 20 people and wounded more than 300, according to Saudi civil aviation and military statements.

The deadliest strike occurred on October 10, when a projectile hit a passenger terminal, killing 13 people, including four Saudis and citizens of Bangladesh, the United States, Egypt, Jordan, Palestine, Syria and Sudan. An Indian national later died of injuries, bringing the toll from that incident higher. A follow-up strike the next day killed a Pakistani resident and injured 11 others.

Saudi authorities said coalition forces intercepted ballistic missiles aimed at Riyadh and Khamis Mushait on October 12. Residents reported explosions after phone alerts of an aerial threat. The Houthis, who control large parts of Yemen including the capital Sanaa, have claimed responsibility for the airport attacks and warned airlines against using Saudi airspace.

The escalation follows the breakdown of a ceasefire and a ground offensive by the Yemeni government against the Houthis earlier in the month. The Saudi-led coalition has conducted airstrikes in Yemen, including on areas near Hodeida and in Jawf province, which the Houthis attributed to Saudi forces. Qatar's emir called for greater Gulf security cooperation.

Riyadh airport serves a city of roughly 8 million. Operations have been suspended, flights diverted, and a NOTAM indicated closure until at least October 17. Schools in the capital shifted to remote learning. The World Petroleum Congress continued in Riyadh despite the disruptions, with Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman stating that fear does not exist in the Saudi dictionary.

The attacks mark the deadliest on Saudi soil in more than a decade. They occur against the backdrop of broader regional tensions involving Iran, the Houthis' main external supporter. The United States has considered options including strikes in Yemen, according to reporting on administration discussions.

Saudi military spokesman Turki Al-Maliki said forces destroyed incoming missiles. The Houthis' military spokesperson Yahya Saree has described the operations as targeted responses and urged compliance with their warnings on Saudi airports. No independent verification of all claims has been possible amid the ongoing conflict.

The human cost includes foreign residents and workers at the airport. Medical teams treated the wounded in Riyadh hospitals. The coalition has vowed a decisive response while continuing strikes on Houthi launch sites. Air traffic remains severely restricted, affecting travel across the Gulf.