Three Saudi nationals have been killed and several others injured in attacks targeting King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia’s civil aviation authority has confirmed, as fighting between Houthi rebels and Saudi-backed forces intensifies in Yemen.
The attacks occurred on Thursday, October 8, 2026. According to the Saudi General Authority of Civil Aviation, the first strike targeted airport facilities, while a second hit an aircraft belonging to national carrier Saudia. The authority said the injuries ranged from minor to serious and that the incidents caused material damage.
Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthi movement said it had targeted the airport with two cruise missiles. Saudia confirmed that one of its aircraft was damaged while on the ground, with no passengers aboard at the time. One of those killed was identified by the airline group as Captain Hamoud Ali Alkalthami.
Airport operations returned to normal later on Thursday, according to Saudi authorities. However, the attacks added to disruption across the region, with hundreds of flights to and from Riyadh reportedly cancelled. Some international airlines also suspended services as security concerns increased.
The strikes come amid a renewed military campaign by Saudi Arabia and allied Yemeni government forces against the Houthis. The coalition is seeking to recover territory captured by the rebels along Yemen’s western Red Sea coast and near the strategic Bab el-Mandeb Strait, a major route for international shipping.
Saudi Arabia has said it is supporting Yemen’s internationally recognised government in its effort to reclaim territory. The Houthis, meanwhile, have justified their attacks by citing the kingdom’s role in the campaign. The Saudi-led coalition said it had destroyed three rocket-launch platforms used by the rebels following the latest airport attacks.
The latest violence follows earlier attacks on Riyadh and Abha airports that Saudi authorities said killed three people and injured dozens. Houthi attacks on aviation facilities have raised concerns about the safety of civilian travel and the possibility of further disruption to regional transport.
The conflict is also unfolding against the backdrop of the wider US-Iran war, which has placed additional pressure on regional security and key energy and shipping routes. Fighting around the Bab el-Mandeb Strait has become particularly significant as disruptions elsewhere in the Middle East threaten international trade.
With military operations continuing and both sides exchanging attacks, the latest strikes highlight the growing risks to civilians and essential infrastructure. The impact on regional aviation and shipping will depend on whether further attacks occur and how the opposing forces respond.