Riyadh airport to stay shut until Saturday – Saudi Arabia probes air defence failure
After deadly Houthi attacks, Riyadh's main airport will stay closed until 17 October, a notice to airmen says. The Houthis declare oil sites and airports 'legitimate targets'.
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Riyadh's King Khalid International Airport will remain closed until 17 October, according to a notice to airmen (NOTAM). Saudi Arabia's civil aviation authority extended the closure on Monday for safety inspections. A Houthi attack on Saturday killed at least 13 people and wounded more than 300; on Sunday a projectile hit Terminal 4, killing a Pakistani resident and injuring 11 people. US carrier Delta postponed the planned launch of its Atlanta–Riyadh route to March 2027.
Saudi Arabia is investigating why its air defences failed to intercept the missiles and drones, the Associated Press reported. Initial findings indicate that drones were launched first, followed by cruise and ballistic missiles that travelled more than 1,000 kilometres. Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman vowed an "equally serious" response. The Saudi-led coalition said on Monday it had intercepted a missile aimed at Riyadh.
Houthi political bureau member Mohammed al-Bukhaiti threatened a "swift and painful response" if the United States entered the war in Yemen, Iran International reported. He told employees of Saudi oil facilities and airports to stay away, calling them "legitimate targets". US President Donald Trump had said Washington was considering joining Saudi strikes on the Houthis.