Houthi Missile Strikes on Saudi Airports Spark Regional Crisis
Houthi rebels launched missile attacks on Saudi airports, killing several people and forcing international airlines to suspend flights to Riyadh amid a wider Yemeni offensive.
The Houthi militia launched a series of ballistic missile and drone attacks on October 6 and 7, 2026, targeting Abha International Airport and King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Saudi authorities reported that these initial strikes killed three people—including Moroccan, Algerian, and Sudanese nationals—and injured 36 others. On October 8, the group escalated its campaign with further strikes on Riyadh's airport, which damaged a Saudia aircraft and killed three Saudi nationals, including a pilot. Interception debris from Saudi air defenses also damaged a medical clinic and a kindergarten in the capital.
The attacks triggered massive aviation disruptions. International carriers including Lufthansa, Air India, and Pakistan International Airlines suspended flights to Riyadh, while the U.S. Mission in Saudi Arabia issued security alerts for American citizens. In retaliation, the Saudi-led coalition destroyed 82 military targets across Yemen, including command centers and a launch platform in Sanaa.
This escalation coincides with the Dawn of Yemen operation, a counter-offensive by the Government of Yemen and the Saudi-led coalition to reclaim strategic Red Sea territory and the Bab el-Mandeb Strait. The Yemeni army reported killing over 1,800 Houthi fighters during this operation. Despite the violence, the Government of Saudi Arabia has rejected any ceasefire until the Yemeni government recovers all lost territory, stating it will not succumb to military blackmail. The United Nations and several nations, including India and Jordan, have condemned the targeting of civilian infrastructure as a violation of international law.
