{
  "id": 13946324,
  "title": "'Except Mecca and Medina': Chaos across Saudi airports as Houthis claim Riyadh strikes",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/12/except-mecca-and-medina-chaos-across-saudi-airports-as-houthis-claim",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-12T11:27:56.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Middle East Eye",
    "slug": "middle-east-eye",
    "url": "https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/except-mecca-and-medina-chaos-across-saudi-airports-houthis-claim-riyadh-strike-threaten-more"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Chaos erupted across Saudi airports on Monday following repeated attacks, particularly on Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport, as the Yemeni Houthi group claimed responsibility. Several airlines suspended operations, and over a third of all planned flights were canceled, with around 60% of flights from Riyadh set to be canceled. Jeddah faced widespread cancellations and delays, with 156 flights out of 374 affected.\n\nThe attacks resulted in significant casualties, with King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh killing 12 people and injuring 309. The death toll later increased to 13 after an Indian national succumbed to injuries. A separate attack on Sunday claimed the life of a Pakistani resident and injured 11 others.\n\nAirlines like Lufthansa and Air France-KLM suspended services to Riyadh until October 16 and the end of October, respectively. The US Federal Aviation Administration cautioned American airlines to exercise caution in and over Saudi Arabia. The Houthi group issued a stern warning to aviation and navigation companies, workers, and travelers against using Saudi airports and airspace, except those serving Mecca and Medina.\n\nThe Saudi-led coalition fighting the Houthi group condemned the attacks as a \"full-fledged war crime.\" International reactions were widespread, with nations such as Iraq, the UAE, Qatar, Germany, France, Britain, the EU, UK Defence Secretary Wes Streeting, and UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres expressing condemnation. This incident marks one of the deadliest escalations in the ongoing \"tit-for-tat\" strikes between the two neighboring Gulf states.",
  "summary": "'Except Mecca and Medina': Chaos across Saudi airports as Houthis claim Riyadh strikes Submitted by MEE staff on Mon, 10/12/2026 - 10:38 Riyadh and Dammam airports were reported closed in a FlightRadar24 update, while Jeddah faced widespread cancellations and delays A CCTV screengrab shows the moment King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh was hit in a Houthi strike, 10 October 2026 (Saudi…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": "https://urgent.news/ill/13946324.png",
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 8,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "The National Business",
        "title": "Saudi Arabia says oil supply to continue to flow despite Riyadh attacks",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/12/saudi-arabia-says-oil-supply-to-continue-to-flow-despite-riyadh",
        "published": "2026-10-12T08:45:18.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Hindustan Times - World News",
        "title": "Saudi Arabia can fund a long war against Houthis, but can't defeat them: Where the military power stands",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/12/saudi-arabia-can-fund-a-long-war-against-houthis-but-cant-defeat-them",
        "published": "2026-10-12T09:32:23.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Ajel English",
        "title": "UAE condemns Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia as violation of sovereignty",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/12/uae-condemns-houthi-attacks-on-saudi-arabia-as-violation-of",
        "published": "2026-10-12T09:33:35.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Punch Nigeria",
        "title": "US warns of fresh attacks on Saudi airports",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/12/us-warns-of-fresh-attacks-on-saudi-airports",
        "published": "2026-10-12T09:50:06.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Semafor",
        "title": "Riyadh hit by deadly Houthi attacks again over the weekend",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/12/riyadh-hit-by-deadly-houthi-attacks-again-over-the-weekend",
        "published": "2026-10-12T11:08:26.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Al Jazeera",
        "title": "Saudi Arabia vows resilience as Houthi strikes hit Riyadh airport",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/12/saudi-arabia-vows-resilience-as-houthi-strikes-hit-riyadh-airport",
        "published": "2026-10-12T11:17:02.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Mothership",
        "title": "2nd strike on Riyadh, Saudi Arabia airport kills 1 & injures 11, Houthis claim responsibility",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/12/2nd-strike-on-riyadh-saudi-arabia-airport-kills-1-injures-11-houthis",
        "published": "2026-10-12T12:24:06.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "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."
}