Yemen’s Houthis warn airlines and travellers to avoid Saudi airports after deadly Riyadh strike

Yemen’s Houthi rebels on Sunday renewed warnings to airlines, travellers, and airport workers to stay away from Saudi airports, a day after a devastating attack on Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport killed 12 people and injured more than 300.

The strike — the deadliest in Saudi Arabia in over a decade — comes amid intensifying clashes between Iran‑backed Houthi forces and Saudi‑supported Yemeni government troops.

In a statement posted on X, the Houthis said Saudi airports and airspace “have become theatres of operations for our forces,” excluding only Mecca and Medina. They urged all airlines and travellers to heed their warnings, saying Saudi Arabia would bear responsibility for any failed interceptions.

Saudi authorities have increased airstrikes in Yemen following the Houthis’ capture of strategic areas along the Red Sea coast last month. The Saudi‑led coalition also reported intercepting a drone near King Fahd International Airport in Dammam on Sunday.

Despite the attack, Riyadh’s long‑planned WPC Energy Congress opened as scheduled, with more than 70 ministers and 300 executives attending. The Saudi energy ministry confirmed the event would proceed at a venue about 10 km from the airport.

Saudi officials said airport operations were temporarily suspended for safety assessments. The victims included nationals from Saudi Arabia, Bangladesh, the United States, Jordan, Palestine, Syria, Sudan, and Egypt.