Riyadh Airport to Remain Closed Until October 17 After Deadly Houthi Attacks

King Khalid International Airport is scheduled to remain closed until 21:00 GMT on October 17, following deadly Houthi attacks on October 10 and 11.

Saudi Arabia has extended the shutdown of Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport, the capital’s main gateway, after two days of Houthi attacks that left 14 people dead.

Closure extended through October 17

A notice issued on Monday sets the closure through 21:00 GMT on October 17, which is midnight at the start of October 18 in Saudi Arabia, Reuters reported. The deadline is the end time of the current notice, not a promise that flights will resume then.

The attacks of October 10 and 11

The attacks were attributed to the Houthis, the Iran-aligned group that controls much of northern Yemen. Reuters reported 13 deaths in Saturday’s attack and one more on Sunday. Earlier coverage, including Israel News Pulse’s first report, gave 12 deaths for the first attack, and the later Reuters figure is 13.

Safety checks before reopening

Saudi aviation authorities said airport operations are suspended while checks of the facilities’ safety and operational readiness are completed. The shutdown has disrupted travel through the Saudi capital.

What travelers should check

Passengers should confirm their flight’s status directly with the operating airline before heading to the airport. An airline may keep its own suspension in place beyond the airport’s closure notice, so the airport deadline alone does not confirm a particular departure.

For travelers with connections, the question is whether every segment remains operational and what rebooking options the airline offers.

Not the first Houthi strike on a Saudi airport

The Houthis have targeted Saudi airports before. Between 2019 and 2022, the group repeatedly launched drones and missiles at Abha airport in the kingdom’s south during the war between the Houthis and a Saudi-led coalition in Yemen.