{
  "id": 12906044,
  "title": "Houthi attacks escalate as smoke billows from plane at Riyadh airport",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/08/houthi-attacks-escalate-as-smoke-billows-from-plane-at-riyadh-airport",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-08T16:22:01.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "New Straits Times",
    "slug": "new-straits-times",
    "url": "https://www.nst.com.my/node/1550886"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "RIYADH: The Yemen-based Iran-aligned Houthi group has intensified its attacks on Saudi Arabia, targeting the kingdom's airspace and oil facilities. Three people have been killed this week due to the group's missile strikes, with witnesses reporting smoke billowing from a plane at Riyadh airport. The Houthi group warned workers to stay away from energy plants. Saudi officials reported debris from an intercepted missile hit a kindergarten and a medical complex. Major airlines Lufthansa and Air India have suspended flights to Riyadh following the attacks. Saudi Arabia claims it is supporting UN-recognized Yemeni government forces in their push to reclaim territory from the Houthi rebels. The conflict, a result of the US-Iran war, has added to the chaos in the region and threatens to involve other countries, including Syria, which may deploy troops to assist Saudi Arabia. Saudi Arabia has requested support from allies like Turkey and Pakistan for logistical or defensive purposes to counter Houthi gains in southwest Yemen, near the southern entrance to the Red Sea.",
  "summary": "RIYADH: Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthis escalated their campaign of strikes against Saudi Arabia on Thursday, trying to shut down the kingdom’s airspace and oil facilities with missile fire that has killed three people this week.",
  "key_points": [
    "Houthi attacks intensify on Saudi Arabia, targeting airspace and oil facilities",
    "Three killed in missile strikes, smoke seen from plane at Riyadh airport",
    "Major airlines suspend flights to Riyadh due to security concerns"
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 5,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Saudi Gazette",
        "title": "Riyadh airport urges passengers to check flight status before departure",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/08/riyadh-airport-urges-passengers-to-check-flight-status-before",
        "published": "2026-10-08T13:56:33.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Gulf News",
        "title": "Riyadh King Khalid airport warns of flight delays, cancellations after Houthi attacks",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/08/riyadh-king-khalid-airport-warns-of-flight-delays-cancellations-after",
        "published": "2026-10-08T14:18:43.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Hindustan Times",
        "title": "Smoke seen at Riyadh airport; flights cancelled, kindergarten, hospital damaged as tensions escalate",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/08/smoke-seen-at-riyadh-airport-flights-cancelled-kindergarten-hospital",
        "published": "2026-10-08T15:11:54.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "FXStreet",
        "title": "Crude Oil grinds higher on record tanker attacks and Houthi missiles",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/08/crude-oil-grinds-higher-on-record-tanker-attacks-and-houthi-missiles",
        "published": "2026-10-08T16:14:54.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}