Airports are supposed to be the boring parts of a trip. Queues, coffee, a delayed boarding call. Nobody walks into one expecting missiles. But this week, two of Saudi Arabia's international airports became targets, and ordinary travellers and workers paid the price.
Let me walk you through what's been reported.
What Happened
According to Saudi Arabia's General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA), three civilians were killed and 36 injured in attacks on Abha International Airport and King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh. The attacks took place on Tuesday, October 6, and Wednesday, October 7, in two separate incidents, and the Houthis claimed them.
Abha: Two Women Killed
At Abha, in the kingdom's southwest, two female residents, one Moroccan and one Algerian, were killed. Another 28 people, a mix of Saudi citizens and foreign residents, were injured.
Let me be honest, that detail stays with you. These weren't soldiers or officials. They were residents of the kingdom, women from two different countries who happened to be at an airport.
Riyadh: A Sudanese Man Killed
In the capital, a Sudanese citizen died in the attack on King Khalid International Airport, and eight others were injured, including five Saudi citizens, two Egyptians and a Pakistani national.
Notice the nationalities. It's a reminder of how many foreign workers and residents live in the Gulf, and how a strike on a civilian hub rarely hurts only one country's people.
Here's the quick snapshot:
| Location | Killed | Injured | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| Abha International Airport | 2 | 28 | Victims were a Moroccan and an Algerian woman |
| King Khalid International Airport, Riyadh | 1 | 8 | Victim was Sudanese; injured included 5 Saudis, 2 Egyptians, 1 Pakistani |
| Total | 3 | 36 | Figures from Saudi aviation authority |
The Houthi Claim and the Saudi Response
The Iran-backed Houthis claimed responsibility. Reports say they used drones against Riyadh and missiles and drones against Abha. Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree said drones and missiles also targeted King Khalid Air Base in Khamis Mushait, claiming they hit their targets accurately.
Strikes Across Yemen
The Saudi-led coalition said on Wednesday that the attacks wouldn't go unpunished, and announced strikes on more than 80 Houthi military sites across several Yemeni governorates. Coalition spokesman Major-General Turki al-Maliki also said forces intercepted a ballistic missile north of Riyadh and destroyed a launch platform in Sanaa that had been used for attacks on the Saudi capital.
And that's where it gets interesting, and a bit scary. This isn't a one-off exchange. The back-and-forth is escalating.
Not the First Time
This follows earlier incidents. On September 18, coalition forces said they intercepted a suspected Houthi ballistic missile fired toward Riyadh's airport. And a Reuters photo from September 19 showed a large plume of black smoke rising from a fuel storage area at King Khalid International Airport.
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| September 18 | Coalition intercepts suspected missile aimed at Riyadh airport |
| September 19 | Black smoke seen over fuel storage at King Khalid airport |
| October 6 | Attack on Abha airport; two women killed |
| October 7 | Attack on Riyadh airport; one Sudanese killed |
| October 8 | Third straight day of Houthi-claimed attacks |
It Didn't Stop There
I wish I could say the story ended Wednesday. It didn't.
Day Three
On Thursday, the Houthis claimed a fresh wave of attacks on King Khalid International Airport, Najran Airport near the Yemen border and King Khalid Air Base, using cruise and ballistic missiles, according to CNN's report. Saudi authorities said they intercepted and destroyed two ballistic missiles fired toward Riyadh, and that falling debris damaged a kindergarten and a medical clinic complex.
Here's the thing. The Saudi side didn't directly confirm whether the airports themselves were hit on Thursday, so those details are still contested. The Houthis claim damage and disrupted air traffic. Saudi officials point to interceptions.
Flights Disrupted
More than 150 flights at Riyadh's airport were reported cancelled, and one report says Air India and Lufthansa suspended services. Explosions were heard across the Saudi capital on Thursday, AFP journalists said.
For travellers, that's real. Missed connections, stranded passengers, families waiting at arrival halls for people who aren't coming.
A Warning of More to Come
The Houthi leader has reportedly warned Saudi Arabia to prepare for a long conflict. And the US Mission in Saudi Arabia said it's aware of the attacks and cautioned that the conflict "has the potential to escalate," telling American citizens to stay vigilant.