French embassy in Riyadh tells citizens to avoid Saudi airports targeted by Houthis

The French embassy in Saudi Arabia advised its citizens on Tuesday to avoid airports in Riyadh, Jeddah, and Dammam due to escalating fighting between a Saudi-led coalition and Iran-backed Houthi rebels. According to Gulf News, the coalition intercepted and destroyed three drones north of Riyadh, while Houthi forces have increased threats against Saudi airports, oil facilities, and military installations.

Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree has repeatedly warned international airlines against operating flights to Saudi airports, and the group has claimed attacks on King Khalid International Airport and a military airbase in Khamis Mushait.

In response to the conflict, Gulf News reports that the Saudi-led coalition issued an evacuation warning for civilians at the Yemen Petroleum Company’s Sabaha Central Station in Sanaa. An Ansar Allah military spokesperson stated that employees and civilians near Aramco were warned to evacuate. Additionally, Hindustan Times reports that four Indian airlines—Air India Express, Akasa Air, IndiGo, and Air India—have cancelled flights to and from Riyadh until October 17.

Regarding public safety measures, Live Mint reports that Saudi Arabia's public warning alerts reportedly went silent prior to deadly strikes in Riyadh following complaints that nighttime alerts disrupted sleep.

Brief written by urgent.news from France 24, Gulf News, Live Mint, Hindustan Times, Hindustan Times - World News — 5 reports on this story. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.