Last Updated on October 12, 2026 by YeJahan
YEJAHAN DESK
SANAA (Oct 12): Yemen’s Houthi rebels have issued a stark warning to airlines and travellers to avoid Saudi airports, following a significant escalation in cross-border strikes that left 13 people dead in Riyadh.
The Iran-backed group cautioned airport staff and passengers that they use Saudi aviation facilities at their own risk, adding: “Saudi Arabia bears full responsibility for any failed interceptions.”
The threat comes immediately after Saudi air defences reportedly intercepted a cruise missile near Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport on Saturday, alongside a drone over the kingdom’s Eastern Province.
The latest wave of attacks has exposed serious vulnerabilities in Saudi Arabia’s defence network. Riyadh has been leading an intensive air campaign against the Houthis, who remain locked in a brutal ground war against Yemen’s internationally recognised government.
Casualties and ground realities
Saturday’s strike on Riyadh’s international airport was the deadliest on Saudi soil in over a decade. The attack hit a terminal complex housing domestic flight terminals 3 and 4, leaving 13 people dead and 309 wounded.
The Saudi General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) confirmed that the victims include four Saudi nationals, two Bangladeshi citizens, and individuals from the United States, India, Jordan, Palestine, Syria, Sudan, and Egypt. Pakistan said five of its citizens got injured in the attack.
“Deeply concerned by the Houthi attack on King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, which Pakistan condemns in the strongest terms. We pray for the speedy recovery of all those injured, including the six Pakistani nationals,” Pakistan’s foreign minister Ishaq Dar said.
Deeply concerned by the Houthi attack on King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, which Pakistan condemns in the strongest terms. We pray for the speedy recovery of all those injured, including the six Pakistani nationals. Attacks targeting civilians and civilian infrastructure are totally unacceptable, violate international law and pose a serious threat to regional peace and security. Such acts must cease immediately. We are in touch with the Saudi Authorities and are closely following the situation. I have directed our Embassy in Riyadh to coordinate with the concerned authorities to provide all possible assistance to the injured Pakistani nationals. We stand in solidarity with Saudi Arabia’s leadership and brotherly people. Pakistan remains firmly committed to the Kingdom’s sovereignty, territorial integrity and security in accordance with the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement.
— Ishaq Dar (@MIshaqDar50) October 11, 2026
Eyewitnesses described scenes of panic inside the terminal as parts of the ceiling collapsed near a departure gate following a loud blast.
The escalation follows a recent surge in Saudi military operations in Yemen, where coalition forces launched a major counter-offensive after the Houthis captured strategic territory along the Red Sea coast. Pro-government forces recently claimed to have secured the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait, a vital global shipping chokepoint.
In response, the Houthis claimed on Sunday that Saudi jets had carried out 124 air strikes across Yemen within 24 hours, targeting the capital, Sanaa, and the rebel stronghold of Saada. The Houthi-run foreign ministry warned that further Saudi actions would trigger a stronger, “reciprocal” retaliation.
Diplomatic maneuvers amid high stakes
In a bid to defuse the rapidly deteriorating situation, the Saudi foreign minister, Prince Faisal bin Farhan, held a phone call with his Iranian counterpart, Abbas Araghchi, on Sunday. The discussion, initiated by Tehran, marks their first publicly acknowledged contact since this latest round of hostilities began.
🇸🇦📞🇮🇷 | Foreign Minister HH Prince @FaisalbinFarhan received a phone call from Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi. https://t.co/vrbpBGrS5y
— Foreign Ministry 🇸🇦 (@KSAmofaEN) October 11, 2026
Sources close to the matter indicate that Tehran offered to assist in brokering talks between Saudi Arabia and the Yemeni rebels.
The crisis has thrown the region back into a volatile cycle of conflict, severely disrupting civil aviation. International carriers have suspended or cancelled flights to the Saudi capital, and the US Embassy in Riyadh has issued an urgent advisory warning American citizens to avoid the airport.
Airports in Saudi Arabia under attack: three killed, dozens injured in strikes
The economic fallout could be substantial. The attack coincided with the opening of major international energy and investment conferences in Riyadh. While organisers insisted the events would proceed, the precision of the Houthi strikes presents an unprecedented challenge to the kingdom’s multi-billion-dollar economic ambitions and its reputation as a stable business hub.
Copyright YeJahan News Network, 2026
