Saudi says Riyadh airport partly reopens despite renewed Houthi threats

RIYADH, Oct 25 — In a shift, Yemen’s Houthis have commenced a series of strikes across southern Saudi Arabia, as Riyadh announced a partial reopening of the international airport despite ongoing attacks. Throughout the day, alerts warning of potential attacks were issued across the kingdom’s southern regions, with the Saudi-led military coalition claiming to have intercepted at least 10 ballistic missiles.

Saudi Arabia, spearheading a coalition fighting the Iran-backed Houthis, has endured a wave of strikes from the group in recent weeks. Tensions escalated after a peace agreement between the Houthis and Riyadh-backed Yemeni government crumbled. One witness in Khamis Mushait reported that the continuous bombardment had been particularly intense since the morning, with the area rattled by explosions.

On Sunday, the international airport in Riyadh announced the resumption of flights following a two-week shutdown after multiple Houthi strikes. The extent of the airport's operations, however, remained uncertain. Houthi fighters have repeatedly targeted the airport, culminating in an attack last month that resulted in 13 deaths and over 300 injuries – the deadliest incident in the kingdom in over a decade.

The group has also struck oil facilities and other infrastructure. Yahya Saree, a Houthi military spokesman, cautioned that Riyadh airport is still deemed "unsafe" and a "military target". In a statement, he warned airlines, staff, and travelers against using King Khalid Airport in Riyadh, labeling it as a target for Houthi forces.

As preparations for the airport's reopening unfolded, AFP journalists in Riyadh heard three explosions early on Sunday, with residents receiving alerts for a "hostile aerial threat" advising them to seek safety. The Saudi-led coalition fighting the Houthis reported downing a ballistic missile launched by the group toward Riyadh, as well as two drones in the capital area.

Later on Sunday morning, the coalition reported intercepting a cruise missile fired by the Houthis at the southern city of Khamis Mushait. The attacks spread across southern Saudi Arabia, with warnings issued for Abha city, Taif, Namas, and Jazan. These strikes followed a report from the Houthi fighters claiming they had targeted three Saudi airports, energy installations, a pipeline, and an air base in a 24-hour period.

The Saudi civil defense agency revealed that they had responded to falling debris in the Mecca and Medina regions on Saturday after intercepting two Houthi missiles. The Houthis denied these claims, calling them "a huge lie". The group also bombed the southern Yemeni city of Aden, the interim capital of the Saudi-backed government, targeting a naval base and military camp belonging to Saudi forces.

The resurgence of the conflict, with the Houthis seizing control of the entire Red Sea coast in a swift offensive last month, has exacerbated regional instability and disrupted oil markets. The constant attacks have dealt a significant blow to Saudi Arabia, the world's largest crude exporter, disrupting businesses, airlines, residents, and challenging the kingdom's efforts to reposition itself internationally.