Houthis Fire on Riyadh for a Third Straight Day; Etihad and Gulf Air Cancel Flights and the Airport Stays Shut Until Saturday

The Saudi-led coalition in Yemen said that on the night of Monday 20 Mehr 1405 (12 October 2026) it intercepted and destroyed one Houthi ballistic missile fired at Riyadh and two at Khamis Mushait. Residents of Riyadh reported several powerful explosions after an air-raid alert, and the Houthis said their target was King Khalid International Airport. It is the third straight day of attacks on the Saudi capital. Al Jazeera reports that Saturday's strike killed at least 13 and wounded more than 300, and Sunday's killed one and wounded 11, for at least 14 deaths in recent days.

Saudi authorities have said Riyadh's airport will stay closed until this Saturday. Etihad Airways cancelled all Riyadh flights until next week and suspended Dammam and Jeddah; Bahrain's Gulf Air cancelled Riyadh flights until Saturday, and Donya-e-Eqtesad reports that Qatar Airways suspended its flights to Riyadh and Dammam. Delta postponed the launch of direct Atlanta-Riyadh flights planned for 23 October (1 Aban). The Houthis have warned airlines and said Saudi oil facilities are also legitimate targets.

Saudi Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman told a conference in Riyadh that the events of recent weeks are "serious" and the response must be equally serious, but that Vision 2030 will continue. The attacks have put the kingdom's investment conference and the WPC Energy Congress, due in Riyadh this month, under pressure.