Yemen's Houthi rebels said they launched another attack on Riyadh's airport and an air base in Khamis Mushait, as Saudi authorities investigate how their air defences failed to stop the weekend barrage that killed 14 people at King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh.
Saudi Arabia issued an alert over a potential 'hostile threat' in Riyadh, according to a message seen by Reuters, before the Saudi-led coalition said it destroyed the ballistic missile fired by the Iran-aligned group. A later alert over Khamis Mushait, in the south of the country, has since passed, officials said.
The Houthis have been attacking Saudi airports and oil facilities since last week as part of a rapidly escalating conflict that has spilled over from the war between the United States and Iran. The weekend strike on King Khalid International Airport killed 14 people and injured about 320.
Authorities have extended the airport's closure until October 17 and airlines have scrapped flights. UAE carrier Etihad said it would not resume services until next week at the earliest. Flightradar24 data showed planes avoiding Riyadh on Monday, though jets were still landing in Jeddah on the west coast. The Saudi civil aviation authority said work was underway to 'allow for the completion of procedures to ensure the safety and operational readiness of the airport's facilities.'
According to officials who spoke to the Associated Press on condition of anonymity, the initial probe showed the Houthis first fired multiple drones to pave the way for a mix of cruise and ballistic missiles, which flew more than 1,000 kilometres to reach Riyadh. Investigators are examining why air defence systems did not provide earlier warning.
Saudi Energy Minister Prince Abdul Aziz bin Salman told the World Petroleum Energy Congress in Riyadh that 'the events of recent weeks are serious' and 'our response must be equally serious.' Strikes have continued in both directions, with the Houthis saying one person was killed and 12 injured in a new Saudi attack on the Yemeni capital Sanaa.
Saudi officials are looking to the United States to become more directly involved in the fight. Washington has so far provided intelligence sharing, target identification and planning for the Saudi-led offensive, but has held off on carrying out direct strikes. President Donald Trump told reporters on Saturday he was looking at the possibility of US attacks against the Houthis.
Analysis
Why This Matters
- A strike on a major international airport, with 14 dead and around 320 injured, shows the conflict spilling over from the US-Iran war now reaching civilian infrastructure in Saudi Arabia's capital.
- The air defence failure raises strategic questions about how missiles travelled more than 1,000 kilometres without earlier warning, and whether Saudi cities and oil facilities can be protected.
- A US decision on direct strikes against the Houthis could significantly widen the war's scope.
Background
The Houthi movement has controlled Yemen's capital Sanaa and large parts of the country since 2014, and has been fighting a Saudi-led coalition since 2015. The rebels, aligned with Iran, have periodically launched missiles and drones at Saudi territory, but the current campaign represents a sharp escalation linked to the broader war between the United States and Iran. The airport attack and the ongoing exchange of fire mark one of the most serious direct threats to Saudi population centres in years.
Key Perspectives
Saudi Arabia: Treats the events as serious and says its response must match, while investigating why its air defences failed and pressing Washington for more direct help.
The Houthis: Claim responsibility for the strikes, say they will keep targeting Saudi airports and oil facilities, and report civilian casualties from Saudi attacks on Sanaa.
United States: Has limited itself to intelligence sharing, target identification and planning, but President Trump says he is considering direct American strikes against the Houthis.
Critics and skeptics: The probe into the defence failure raises questions about Saudi preparedness, and direct US strikes would mark a major escalation whose consequences for the region are difficult to predict.
What to Watch
- Whether the White House authorises direct US strikes on Houthi positions, and how the rebels respond.
- Whether King Khalid International Airport reopens by October 17 as scheduled, and when airlines such as Etihad resume flights.
- The findings of the Saudi investigation into why the weekend barrage was not intercepted earlier.
- Whether Houthi attacks on Saudi oil facilities resume, which could affect global energy markets.