Yemen’s Houthis renew threat against Riyadh airport as flights set to resume

Yemen's Iran-backed Houthis issued fresh threats against Saudi Arabia's King Khalid International Airport on Sunday, warning airlines and travelers to avoid the airport as it readies to resume limited operations. Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree stated the airport remained a military target, vowing continued attacks, according to Reuters.

The statement came shortly after the airport announced plans to reopen two terminals, with Terminal 1 accommodating domestic flights and Terminal 2 to handle international flights operated by Saudi national airlines, starting Sunday. Airport operations were halted on October 10 following a Houthi-claimed attack that killed 13 people and injured over 300 others, marking the deadliest incident in Saudi Arabia in over a decade.

The assault prompted authorities to extend the airport's closure for two additional days. The Houthis have intensified their targeting of Saudi infrastructure, including airports, ports, and oil facilities, as regional conflicts escalate. These attacks have put Saudi Arabia, a key U.S. ally and major global oil exporter, under increasing pressure due to the broader regional conflict.

Concurrently, Saudi Arabia has intensified its military operations in Yemen, conducting airstrikes against Houthi positions and supporting a government counteroffensive. This renewed campaign follows the Houthis' recent seizure of strategic territory along Yemen's Red Sea coast, further escalating hostilities between the Saudi-backed government and the Iran-aligned group.