Riyadh’s Main Airport Remains Closed After Week-Long Houthi Assault

Saudi authorities announced that the principal airport serving Riyadh will stay closed until Sunday. The decision follows a sustained campaign by Yemen’s Houthi rebels, who have targeted the facility with missiles and drones for the past week. Officials did not specify whether the airport will be able to resume operations after the announced deadline.

The Houthis, an Iran-backed insurgent group operating from Yemen, have intensified attacks on Saudi air infrastructure. In addition to the Riyadh hub, the rebels have struck other Saudi airports, creating a broader pattern of disruption across the kingdom’s civil aviation network. The group’s strategy appears aimed at pressuring Saudi Arabia by targeting critical transportation assets.

The ongoing assaults have forced airlines to cancel or delay hundreds of flights each day, leaving passengers stranded and prompting a ripple effect throughout regional travel schedules. The shutdown of the capital’s main airport, a central node for both domestic and international connections, has amplified logistical challenges for airlines, cargo operators, and travelers alike.

Saudi officials emphasized the difficulty of neutralizing the Houthi threat, noting that no straightforward solution is presently available. The announcement to keep the airport closed reflects a precautionary approach intended to safeguard passengers and staff amid the persistent missile and drone activity.

• At least 16 people have been killed in the attacks on Saudi airports over the past week.

• The Houthi campaign has resulted in the cancellation or disruption of hundreds of flights daily across the kingdom’s aviation system.

• The Riyadh airport closure is slated to last until the upcoming Sunday, though its reopening remains uncertain.