{
  "id": 16510188,
  "title": "Riyadh airport reopens despite renewed Houthi threats",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/25/riyadh-airport-reopens-despite-renewed-houthi-threats",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-25T18:54:12.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "RTE News",
    "slug": "rte-news",
    "url": "https://www.rte.ie/news/middle-east/2026/1025/1596819-riyadh-airport-reopens/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, has restarted operations at two terminals, despite threats from the Iran-aligned Houthis. The airport had been halted on October 10 following an attack by the Houthis that killed 13 people, the deadliest in the kingdom in over a decade.\n\nThe Yemeni militant group claimed responsibility for another wave of missile and drone strikes today, as fighting with Saudi forces continues. The Houthis also attacked other sites, including Khamis Mushait and Jazan. It is unclear if these attacks were the same ones Saudi officials intercepted.\n\nHouthi spokesman Yahya Saree vowed that the airport would \"never be safe\" and urged airlines, airport staff and travelers to avoid using it. The Saudi-led coalition reported 20 attacks on the airport between October 1 and 11.\n\nSaudi authorities issued emergency alerts for Riyadh and several other cities, but the danger later passed. The coalition stated that two drones and a ballistic missile were launched towards Riyadh, while a cruise missile was targeted at Khamis Mushait. They intercepted 10 ballistic missiles fired at southern Saudi Arabia.\n\nThe conflict in Yemen has exacerbated tensions in the US-Israeli offensive against Iran, making Saudi Arabia a key target. The country intervened in the Yemeni civil war in 2015, supporting the internationally recognized government against the Houthis who seized the capital Sanaa a year earlier.",
  "summary": "Saudi Arabia said its main airport resumed operations at two terminals even as Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthis vowed to keep striking the facility, which they called a \"military target\".",
  "key_points": [
    "King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh reopened at two terminals",
    "Houthis threatened the airport, claiming responsibility for attacks",
    "Saudi-led coalition intercepted 10 ballistic missiles targeting Riyadh"
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 3,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Al-Monitor",
        "title": "Houthis say attacked Riyadh airport hours after flights resume",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/25/houthis-say-attacked-riyadh-airport-hours-after-flights-resume-16515450",
        "published": "2026-10-25T15:30:23.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Middle East Eye",
        "title": "Houthis say attacked Riyadh airport hours after flights resume",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/25/houthis-say-attacked-riyadh-airport-hours-after-flights-resume",
        "published": "2026-10-25T19:21:01.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "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."
}