Riyadh's international airport announced the resumption of flights on Sunday following a two-week closure triggered by strikes from Yemen's Houthis targeting the Saudi capital, even as the Iran-backed group cautioned that the facility remained unsafe. Flight monitoring data confirmed that an aircraft departed early Sunday from Riyadh bound for the Saudi city of Jeddah.
Saudi Arabia and the internationally recognized Yemeni government it supports have experienced a surge of Houthi attacks in recent weeks following the breakdown of a multi-year truce over the summer. The renewed hostilities have drawn heightened attention amid the broader regional conflict and exacerbated the humanitarian crisis in Yemen.
King Khalid International Airport stated on social media that Terminal 1 would handle domestic flights while Terminal 2 would accommodate international flights operated by national carriers starting Sunday, October 25, 2026. The facility had been closed after a series of Houthi strikes on Riyadh, including an assault earlier in the month that killed 13 individuals and injured over 300, marking the deadliest attack inside the kingdom in over a decade.
Despite the reopening, Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Saree reiterated warnings that the aviation hub remained unsafe and designated as a military target. He advised local, regional, and international airlines, along with travelers and staff, against using the airport and stated that the Saudi leadership would be held accountable for any operations there.
Shortly after the announcement of the resumed flights, the Saudi-led military coalition operating in Yemen reported that it had intercepted and destroyed two drones over the Riyadh area early Sunday morning.