Riyadh airport resumes limited flights as Houthi attacks continue

RIYADH: Flight operations have resumed at Saudi Arabia’s King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh after a two-week closure triggered by deadly attacks, even as Yemen’s Houthi movement continued missile and drone strikes against the kingdom.

The airport’s website listed several domestic and international flights scheduled for Sunday, including services arriving from Dubai, Paris and Cairo. Saudi authorities confirmed that operations had restarted at two terminals. However, flight-tracking data indicated that only a limited number of aircraft had departed, while most scheduled services remained cancelled.

The reopening came amid renewed security alerts across Riyadh. Residents received text messages warning of a potential aerial threat early Sunday, while explosions were heard in the Saudi capital. The Saudi-led military coalition said it had intercepted missiles and drones launched towards the kingdom.

The airport closure had disrupted travel and dealt a blow to Saudi Arabia’s business and tourism activities. The kingdom’s flagship investment conference was postponed until 2027, while the Dakar Rally was among the major events cancelled, postponed or relocated amid the wider regional conflict.

The Houthis claimed responsibility for attacks targeting Riyadh’s international airport and other locations, including Khamis Mushait and Jazan. The group’s military spokesperson, Yahya Saree, had earlier described the airport as unsafe and a military target.

The latest escalation follows previous Houthi attacks on the airport, including a strike earlier this month that reportedly killed 13 people and injured more than 300.

Saudi air defences also intercepted additional incoming threats in the southern region. The Saudi-led coalition reported the interception of at least 10 ballistic missiles, while its spokesperson, Turki Al-Maliki, confirmed that further missiles and drones had been destroyed.

A cruise missile launched towards Khamis Mushait was also intercepted, according to the coalition. Security warnings were issued for several areas, including Abha, Taif, Namas and Jazan.

The attacks caused damage to buildings and vehicles in southern Saudi Arabia. The kingdom’s Civil Defence agency reported that two people were injured by falling debris. Images released by the Saudi Press Agency showed damaged building facades and shattered windows.

As security tensions continued, Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis arrived in Riyadh and met Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. Mitsotakis agreed to the kingdom’s request to keep the Patriot air defence system in Saudi Arabia amid the deteriorating security situation, according to his office.

Meanwhile, diplomatic efforts to contain the wider regional conflict continued. Qatari mediators travelled to Tehran on Sunday as part of efforts to reduce tensions in coordination with the United States, according to an official familiar with the discussions.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said that renewed hostilities involving Iran, Israel and the United States would not alter Tehran’s overall policies. He warned that another conflict would not produce a different outcome and called for a regional security arrangement without foreign military forces.

Araghchi also said the conflict had changed the strategic situation surrounding the Strait of Hormuz, a vital route for global energy shipments. He argued that the management of the waterway and regional shipping routes would not return to their previous conditions.

Separately, Iranian parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf urged citizens to reduce gas consumption by at least 10 per cent as the country prepares for winter and faces potential supply shortages.

Iran’s military also reported shooting down a US-made LUCAS drone over the southern port city of Bandar Abbas. Iranian forces separately launched drone attacks against bases belonging to an Iranian Kurdish opposition group in Iraq’s Kurdistan region, according to Iranian media reports.

In another development, US Central Command said it had helped Gulf countries export 1.5 billion barrels of oil through the Strait of Hormuz since the summer, bypassing an Iranian blockade.