Missile Interceptions and Targeting Warnings The Saudi-led military coalition in Yemen reported on Thursday the successful interception and destruction of three ballistic missiles deployed by Houthi forces toward the Saudi capital, Riyadh, and the southwestern city of Khamis Mushait. According to coalition spokesperson Maj. Gen. Turki al-Maliki, two missiles were directed at Riyadh, while a third targeted the Asir region.
Following the strikes, Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree issued an explicit warning to workers, engineers, and specialists operating at Saudi energy infrastructure, urging them to evacuate sites identified as potential targets. Saree further cautioned commercial airlines, airport personnel, and travelers against utilizing airspace and aviation hubs previously designated within the group’s operational zone, though he noted that airspace above Makkah and Madinah remains excluded from these threats.
Reported Disruptions and Conflict Context Houthi authorities claimed that a missile strike directed at King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh succeeded in disrupting local air traffic. Witnesses and sources cited by news outlets reported smoke rising from an unoccupied, stationary aircraft at the facility, though official Saudi agencies have not verified this specific incident. The heightened missile and drone offensive aligns with recent military developments on the ground, where Yemeni government forces initiated Operation “Dawn of Yemen,” aiming to reclaim territories currently controlled by the Houthis and restore state authority.
Casualties and Damages Following Airport Strikes Saudi Arabia’s General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) confirmed that earlier strikes conducted on October 6 and 7 against Abha International Airport and King Khalid International Airport resulted in three fatalities and 36 injuries. At King Khalid International Airport, a Sudanese resident was killed and eight individuals were injured—including five Saudi nationals, two Egyptian residents, and one Pakistani resident. Meanwhile, the attack on Abha International Airport caused two deaths and 28 injuries among Saudi citizens, as well as Bangladeshi and Filipino residents. GACA stated that all injured parties received emergency medical care and that authorities are actively evaluating property damage to maintain security across the national civil aviation network.
