Saudi Arabia reopened two terminals at King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh on Sunday, October 25, 2026, despite a renewed series of missile and drone attacks by Yemen-based Houthi forces. The facility, which Saudi officials designated as Terminal 1 for domestic flights and Terminal 2 for international services operated by national carriers, had been closed since an October 10 attack killed 13 people. Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Saree responded by labeling the airport a "military target" and advising travelers and staff to avoid the site.
The closure of the airport followed what was described as the deadliest strike in the kingdom in over a decade. The Saudi-led coalition reported that the Houthis conducted 20 attacks on the facility between October 1 and October 11. The recent escalation occurs as Saudi Arabia increases air strikes against Houthi forces, who recently seized territory along the Red Sea coast near the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, a global maritime shipping route.
On the day of the reopening, the Saudi-led coalition reported intercepting 10 ballistic missiles launched toward southern Saudi Arabia, along with two drones and a ballistic missile directed at Riyadh. Shrapnel from interceptions over Khamis Mushait and Ahad Rafidah reportedly injured two people and damaged residential property. While Houthi officials also claimed to have targeted Saudi oil facilities on Saturday, Saudi authorities did not provide a direct response to those specific claims.
The reopening of King Khalid International Airport affects travelers and airport employees who must now navigate a facility that Houthi forces have designated as a military target. The conflict is reflected in the volume of recent attacks, including 20 strikes in an 11-day period and 10 missiles intercepted in a single day. For travelers, this means domestic and international flights operated by national carriers are resuming, but flight-tracking data from October 25 showed limited traffic compared to normal operations.
The hostilities have impacted civilians, with at least 13 deaths and 300 injuries reported from the October 10 strike. Residents in Riyadh, Abha, Khamis Mushait, Jazan, and Najran were subject to emergency alerts on October 25. The use of ballistic and cruise missiles against urban centers and transit hubs forces a reliance on air defense systems to prevent further casualties and property damage in residential areas.
The conflict has implications for global energy markets and maritime security due to its proximity to the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, a chokepoint for oil producers. The renewed fighting in Yemen has shattered a UN-brokered truce that had largely held since 2022. Houthi representatives have stated the airport will "never be safe." No specific dates for full operational restoration or future peace talks were reported, though Saudi authorities maintain civil defense alerts in several major cities.