Houthis strike Saudi Arabia as Riyadh airport reopens

Yemen's Houthi forces launched fresh missile and drone attacks on Saudi Arabia on Sunday as Riyadh's King Khalid International Airport reopened after a closure of more than two weeks. The Saudi-led coalition said it intercepted the projectiles. The Houthis warned the airport remains a military target.

Is Riyadh airport open after the Houthi attacks?

Partly. King Khalid International Airport began reopening two terminals for domestic and international flights on Sunday, but the full extent of its operations remains uncertain. Passengers were advised to confirm bookings with their airlines before traveling to the airport, as the Houthis have warned it remains a target.

What did Saudi Arabia intercept in the latest Houthi attacks?

The Saudi-led coalition fighting the Iran-aligned group said its air defenses intercepted 10 ballistic missiles aimed at the kingdom's southern region. It also reported intercepting a ballistic missile and two drones in the Riyadh region, along with a cruise missile fired toward the southern city of Khamis Mushait.

Residents in Riyadh received emergency phone alerts early Sunday urging them to seek shelter after warnings of a "hostile aerial threat." AFP journalists in the city heard three explosions. Authorities also issued warnings for Abha and areas around Taif, Namas and Jazan.

The coalition later said the threats had been neutralized, Al Jazeera reported.

What have the Houthis said about Riyadh airport?

Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree urged international, regional and domestic airlines, as well as airport staff and passengers, to avoid the facility. The group said the airport serves as a military target.

"The Yemeni Armed Forces warn all international, regional and local airlines, as well as staff and travelers, against using King Khalid Airport in Riyadh, as it is unsafe and serves as a military target for our forces," he said. "The Saudi regime shall bear the consequences of any operations at the airport."

The Houthis said they had targeted three Saudi airports, energy installations, a pipeline and an air base within 24 hours. They also said they had attacked a naval base and a military camp overseen by Saudi forces in Aden, the southern Yemeni city that serves as the interim seat of Yemen's Saudi-backed government.

How deadly were the earlier strikes on Riyadh airport?

An earlier attack on the airport this month killed 13 people and wounded more than 300, according to the initial account. The airport had been closed following those deadly strikes. The attacks have also targeted oil infrastructure and other strategic sites, disrupting transport and business activity.

Saudi civil defense authorities also responded Saturday to falling debris in the Mecca and Medina regions after two missiles were intercepted. The Houthis denied targeting the two cities, Islam's holiest sites, describing the Saudi claim as a "huge lie."

Why are Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia escalating?

The latest escalation follows the collapse of a years-long truce between the Houthis and Yemen's internationally recognized government, which is backed by Riyadh. The fighting has intensified as the wider regional conflict involving Iran, Israel and the United States continues to threaten regional stability.

The Houthis' territorial advances along Yemen's Red Sea coast have added to concerns about maritime security and energy supplies. Saudi Arabia, the world's largest crude oil exporter, has faced growing pressure as attacks threaten infrastructure, disrupt airlines and businesses, and undermine its efforts to attract international investment and tourism.