Riyadh airport attacked again, evacuated after blasts:225 flights cancelled in 24 hours, marks 4th attack in 20 days

Saudi Arabia’s King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh was attacked again on Saturday, marking the fourth attack on the airport in 20 days. The airport was evacuated and flight operations were suspended following the incident, according to regional officials cited by the Associated Press (AP). At least 225 flights were cancelled over the past 24 hours because of the attack, according to flight-tracking website FlightAware. The incident comes amid escalating fighting between Yemen’s Houthi rebels and Yemeni government forces backed by Saudi Arabia. Riyadh has been conducting airstrikes to help the government forces counter recent Houthi advances near the Red Sea. Earlier this week, the Houthis warned international airlines that operating flights in Saudi airspace could have serious consequences, declaring the country’s airspace a zone for their military operations. However, the group did not immediately claim responsibility for Saturday’s attack. The Saudi government also did not issue an immediate official statement. Saudi Arabia has sought assistance from the United States and other allies amid attacks on its airports, military installations and oil-related facilities. US support reportedly includes intelligence sharing, target identification and assistance with military planning. On Friday, US President Donald Trump expressed displeasure over the attacks, saying the situation was “not good” and that he was not happy. However, Washington did not indicate whether it would provide military assistance in response. Meanwhile, several international airlines, including Air India, flydubai, Lufthansa Group and Pakistan International Airlines, have suspended flights to Riyadh and other Saudi airports amid growing security concerns. The European Union Aviation Safety Agency has also strengthened its warning regarding Saudi airspace, citing the Houthis’ growing ability to strike targets deep inside Saudi Arabia, including aviation facilities. Previous attacks on Riyadh Airport September 19, 2026: An attack near the airport’s fuel storage area triggered a fire and sent black smoke into the sky. The Houthis claimed to have targeted military and strategic sites in Riyadh. October 7, 2026: Attacks targeting Riyadh and Abha airports killed one Sudanese national and injured eight others. October 8, 2026: Two attacks targeted airport facilities and a parked Saudi Airlines Airbus A320. Three Saudi nationals, including pilot Captain Hamoud Ali Al-Qalisami, were reported killed. ​