Saudi Arabia Reopens Riyadh Airport After Houthi Strikes; Pakistan Says It Has Forces in the Capital

Saudi Arabia reopened Riyadh's King Khalid International Airport on Friday, October 9, 2026, after Houthi attacks the previous day. The General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) said Thursday's strikes hit airport facilities and a Saudia aircraft, causing injuries ranging from minor to severe, and that operations have resumed with air traffic back to normal. Al Jazeera reports that the attacks killed three people; Saudia said one of its pilots, Captain Hamoud Ali Alkalthami, died.

The Saudi-led coalition said it intercepted two ballistic missiles heading towards Riyadh and one towards Khamis Mushait on Thursday, and on Friday said it had destroyed three Houthi rocket launch platforms. Pakistan's foreign ministry said it has a "substantial number of forces" in Riyadh under its defence pact with Saudi Arabia, for defensive purposes only. Donya-e-Eqtesad and Tasnim also reported Saudi confirmation of the attack. For Iran's markets, the channel is the regional escalation premium: Brent traded near $102.6 on Friday afternoon (Sahmino price feed, 15:57 Tehran time).