PIA suspends flights to Riyadh amid Middle East situation

Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) has temporarily halted its flight operations to Riyadh due to escalating tensions in the Middle East, according to a spokesperson for the airline. Passengers are urged to contact PIA's call center at 111-786-786 for updates on their travel plans prior to arriving at the airport. PIA extends its apologies for any inconvenience caused by this suspension.

This decision follows Yemen's Houthis intensifying their attacks against Saudi Arabia, with missile strikes that have claimed three lives this week. The group claimed responsibility for targeting Riyadh airport, where witnesses reported seeing flames emanating from a plane. Additionally, the Houthis have warned against personnel approaching energy plants.

Saudi officials reported that debris from an intercepted missile struck a kindergarten and a medical complex. Other airlines, such as Lufthansa and Air India, have also suspended flights to Riyadh in response to the Houthi assaults. The Houthis claim their attacks are in retaliation for Saudi support of Yemen's government in their ongoing civil war, while Saudi Arabia asserts it is in support of the UN-recognized government's efforts to reclaim territory from the Houthis.

This conflict, stemming from the broader US-Iran conflict, has injected further instability into an already turbulent region, potentially prompting other countries to intervene. Pakistan and Turkiye have been approached by Saudi Arabia for logistical and defensive assistance as they strive to counter Houthi advances in southwest Yemen, near the Red Sea's southern entrance.