Explosion at Riyadh Airport Injures Multiple People Amid Houthi Attacks

Smoke and flames were reported at King Khalid Airport in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, following an explosion on October 8, 2026, attributed to an attack by Yemen's Iran-backed Houthis. Eyewitnesses reported seeing multiple injured individuals on the ground inside the airport, and over a dozen ambulances responded to the scene. The Saudi government's media office and the Saudi civil aviation authority did not immediately comment on the incident. This explosion occurred during a period of increased missile strikes by the Houthis on Saudi Arabia, with the airport having been attacked twice earlier in the week, resulting in four fatalities and additional injuries. Flight-tracking data indicated that all flights to Riyadh were either diverted or canceled, with only a helicopter observed hovering over the airport. Kuwait Airways announced the cancellation of flights to and from Riyadh due to the airport's closure amid security concerns. Etihad Airways and Qatar Airways also canceled several flights to the Saudi capital, with some cancellations extending into Monday. Despite the attacks, organizers of upcoming major energy and investment conferences in Riyadh stated that the events would proceed as scheduled and reassured attendees of their safety. The Houthis have declared Saudi airspace a military operations zone, advising airliners to avoid the area following the launch of an offensive by the Saudi-backed Yemeni government earlier this month.