Riyadh airport partially reopens after two-week shutdown as Saudi forces intercept 10 Houthi missiles

Riyadh's King Khalid International Airport resumed limited operations on Sunday, October 25, after a shutdown of about two weeks caused by Houthi missile strikes, even as fresh attacks from Yemen tested Saudi air defences.

Airport authorities said Terminal 1 would handle domestic flights and Terminal 2 international flights operated by national carriers. Terminals damaged in earlier strikes remained closed, and passengers were advised to check with their airlines before travelling.

Missiles and drones intercepted

The Saudi-led coalition said it destroyed a ballistic missile aimed at Riyadh and drones over the capital region early on Sunday, followed later by a cruise missile directed at Khamis Mushait. It also said it intercepted 10 ballistic missiles fired towards southern Saudi Arabia.

Saudi Civil Defence said debris from two intercepted missiles fell in Khamis Mushait and Ahad Rafidah, injuring two people, a Saudi citizen and a resident from Asia, and damaging three homes and seven vehicles. Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree claimed attacks on the Riyadh airport and military sites and warned airlines against using the airport. These claims could not be independently verified.

A widening conflict

The Houthis stepped up attacks on Saudi Arabia after a long truce in Yemen collapsed. A Houthi strike on the Riyadh airport earlier this month killed at least 13 people and wounded more than 300, according to agency reports. The United States has ordered non-emergency government staff and their families to leave Saudi Arabia, and several Gulf airlines have cancelled or changed flights to the kingdom.

Why it matters for India

Saudi Arabia is home to a large Indian community and receives large numbers of Umrah pilgrims. India's Consulate General in Jeddah has issued an advisory and set up round-the-clock control rooms in Jeddah and Makkah, and is helping pilgrims affected by flight cancellations with food, medicines and visa extensions, according to reports. The attacks have also pushed crude oil prices higher, which feeds into India's import bill and fuel costs.

Indian nationals in Saudi Arabia have been advised to follow instructions from local authorities and stay in touch with the Indian embassy and consulate.