Riyadh airport faces fresh Houthi warning ahead of reopening
Yemen's Houthis say Riyadh's King Khalid International Airport remains a military target as two terminals prepare to reopen following an October 10 attack.
- Yemen's Houthi movement has issued a fresh warning for airlines and travellers to avoid Riyadh's King Khalid International Airport, stating it remains a military target.
- The threat was made as the airport prepared to reopen two terminals on Sunday following a period of closure.
- Operations were initially suspended after a deadly Houthi attack on 10 October, which killed 13 people and injured more than 300.
- A Houthi military spokesman affirmed that attacks targeting the airport would continue despite the planned resumption of flights.
Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthi movement has renewed its warning that airlines, airport staff and travellers should avoid King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, maintaining that the facility remains a military target despite plans to resume flight operations.
The warning came on Sunday (October 25), shortly after airport authorities announced arrangements to reopen two terminals following a deadly attack earlier this month.
Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree maintained that the airport remained a "military target" and warned that attacks targeting the facility would continue.
Airport prepares to resume operations
Late on Saturday, the operator of King Khalid International Airport announced plans to restore services at two passenger terminals on Sunday.
Under the arrangements, Terminal 1 would accommodate domestic flights, while Terminal 2 would handle international services.
Airport operations had been suspended after an October 10 attack for which the Houthis claimed responsibility.
The assault killed 13 people and injured more than 300 others, making it the deadliest attack in Saudi Arabia in more than a decade.
The suspension was extended two days later.
Rising tensions between Saudi Arabia and the Houthis
The latest warning comes amid repeated Houthi missile and drone attacks targeting Saudi Arabia's airports, ports and energy infrastructure.
The strikes have added to the pressure on Saudi Arabia, a key United States ally, amid the wider regional conflict.
Saudi Arabia has also intensified its military involvement in Yemen, carrying out air strikes against Houthi forces and supporting a counteroffensive by the Yemeni government.
The escalation followed the Houthis' seizure of strategically important territory along Yemen's Red Sea coast last month.
Source: Reuters
