Yemen's Houthis Target Saudi Arabia's Capital Airport With Drones and Missiles
Translated & summarized from Vesty by baba
Yemen's Houthi rebels attacked Riyadh's King Khalid International Airport on October 10 and 11 with drones and missiles, causing casualties and significant damage. The airport is closed until at least October 17, impacting international travel and Saudi GDP. The UAE and Israel condemned the attacks, with Israel offering condolences and calling for regional unity. The Houthis vowed further escalation, declaring most of Saudi Arabia a legitimate target.
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- Houthi missile and drone attacks on Riyadh's airport killed 12 and injured 309 on October 10, with further casualties on October 11.
- Riyadh's King Khalid International Airport is closed until at least October 17 due to the attacks.
- Saudi GDP has fallen 3.6% compared to October 2025 following the attacks.
- UAE official Anwar Gargash called for Gulf states to resist Iranian aggression and Houthi attacks.
- Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu condemned the attacks and offered condolences to Saudi Arabia.
- A Houthi spokesperson vowed continued escalation and declared most of Saudi Arabia a legitimate target.
Riyadh's King Khalid International Airport remains closed following a Houthi missile attack on the evening of October 10, which killed 12 people and injured 309. A subsequent strike on October 11 resulted in one death and ten injuries. Saudi security services believe the Houthis first launched drones to distract air defenses before firing a ballistic missile. Reuters released video footage from the airport during the attack, showing panicked passengers and flames. The October 10 missile hit terminals for domestic flights, killing citizens of Saudi Arabia, Bangladesh, the U.S., Egypt, Jordan, and Sudan. King Khalid International Airport is Saudi Arabia's second-busiest airport. Operations are not expected to resume before October 17, and flights are rerouting around the capital. Foreign business visits have been canceled, and Saudi Arabia's GDP has decreased by 3.6% compared to October 2025. Anwar Gargash, an advisor to the UAE president, urged Gulf states to resist Iranian aggression, stating that Iran views the region as a "weak link." Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu condemned the "monstrous terrorist act," expressing condolences to Saudi Arabia and emphasizing Israel's desire for a united Middle East against threats. A Houthi spokesperson stated that their policy is "an eye for an eye, an airport for an airport," vowing escalation in response to Saudi actions and claiming Saudi air defenses are ineffective. The spokesperson also declared all of Saudi Arabia, except Mecca and Medina, legitimate targets. The current escalation began in July 2026, ending a four-year lull in Yemen's civil war, which has been ongoing since 2014. Saudi Arabia supports Yemen's internationally recognized government and targets the Houthis. The Houthis recently seized strategic coastal areas near the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, enhancing their control over global shipping lanes through which 12% of world trade passes.
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