Houthi missile attacks on Riyadh intensify as Saudi Arabia intercepts incoming missiles, investigates air defences and extends airport closures.
Houthi missile attacks on Riyadh have intensified, with Saudi Arabia reporting the interception of additional ballistic missiles aimed at its capital and another city in the southwest. The latest incident comes amid deadly strikes, airport disruptions and rising regional tensions. The Times of Russia examines the latest developments as Saudi authorities investigate the effectiveness of their air defence systems.
Saudi Arabia Intercepts Missiles Targeting Riyadh
The Saudi-led coalition fighting the Houthis in Yemen announced that its forces had intercepted another round of missiles directed towards Saudi territory.
Turki Al-Maliki, the coalition’s spokesperson, said in a statement posted on X that the Houthis had launched one ballistic missile towards Riyadh and two towards Khamis Mushait in southwestern Saudi Arabia. All three projectiles were intercepted and destroyed, according to the statement.
The latest Houthi missile attacks on Riyadh followed reports of several powerful explosions across the capital on Monday night. Residents said they heard the blasts shortly after receiving text alerts warning them of an aerial threat.
The Houthis, who control Yemen’s most heavily populated areas, including the capital, Sanaa, claimed that King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh was their intended target.
Yahya Saree, a military spokesperson for the group, also said a drone had been dispatched towards a military airbase in Khamis Mushait, close to the Yemeni border.
Saree renewed the group’s warning to international airlines and passengers against operating flights to Saudi airports, with the exception of those serving the holy cities of Mecca and Medina. He described the targeted facilities as unsafe.
King Khalid International Airport Remains Closed
The latest Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia have added to the disruption caused by earlier strikes on the country’s aviation infrastructure.
King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh has remained closed following a Houthi attack on Saturday that killed at least 13 people and injured more than 300. A further strike on Sunday killed one person and wounded 11 others.
Saudi authorities announced that the airport would remain shut until Saturday, while airlines cancelled services in response to the security situation.
The Houthis have also carried out attacks against Saudi oil facilities, raising concerns about the security of critical infrastructure.
The continuing strikes have created significant challenges for Saudi Arabia as it attempts to protect its population, maintain transport connections and safeguard important economic facilities.
Saudi Arabia Investigates Air Defence Failures
Saudi authorities have launched an investigation into how the country’s air defence network failed to prevent the recent barrage from reaching its targets, according to two regional officials who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity.
An initial investigation indicated that the Houthis launched several drones before sending a combination of cruise and ballistic missiles towards the airport. According to the officials, the initial drone attacks may have been intended to clear a path for the subsequent missiles.
The investigation is examining the circumstances that allowed the weapons to reach Riyadh despite the country’s air defence capabilities.
The Houthis possess ballistic missiles equipped with warheads capable of changing direction during flight. This feature presents additional challenges for the Patriot interceptors and other defence systems used by Saudi Arabia.
One official told the AP that investigators were also seeking to establish why the country’s defences did not provide an earlier warning. The missiles and drones reportedly travelled more than 1,000 kilometres, or 620 miles, to reach Riyadh.
The inquiry could help authorities understand the weaknesses exposed by the attacks and assess the performance of the systems responsible for detecting and intercepting incoming threats.
Yemen Conflict Fuels Regional Tensions
The Houthi missile attacks on Riyadh are taking place as the group continues fighting forces aligned with Yemen’s internationally recognised government.
The Saudi-led coalition has conducted an air campaign against the Houthis while supporting government forces in their ground operations. The conflict has unfolded amid wider regional tensions triggered by the war involving the United States, Israel and Iran.
The attacks have placed Saudi Arabia’s security concerns at the centre of an increasingly volatile regional situation.
Speaking at an energy conference in Riyadh, Saudi Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman Al Saud said attacks against airports over the previous week had tested the kingdom’s resilience.
“The events of recent weeks are serious,” the minister said. “Our response must be equally serious.”
He also stressed that Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s Vision 2030 economic diversification programme must continue despite the security challenges.
“Investment must continue,” he said, underlining the importance of maintaining the kingdom’s economic plans.
Donald Trump Criticises Houthis but Offers No Intervention Details
US President Donald Trump criticised the Houthis following the attacks but did not indicate whether Washington would intervene.
“Well, the Houthis are misbehaving very badly. No good,” Trump told reporters when asked about his plans regarding the group.
A Houthi political official subsequently warned that any American involvement in the conflict would trigger retaliation.
Mohammed al-Bukhaiti, a member of the Houthis’ political bureau, told AFP that the group would respond quickly if the United States joined military operations against Yemen.
“If the US becomes involved in the aggression against Yemen, we will not deliberate over the decision to respond; rather, there will be a swift and painful response targeting the US and all its interests in the region,” he said.
Al-Bukhaiti also warned employees and workers at Saudi oil facilities and airports to stay away from those locations, which he described as legitimate targets.
The statements have added to concerns that further military involvement could widen the confrontation and put additional infrastructure across the region at risk.
Saudi Flight Cancellations Disrupt Travel and Business Events
The continuing Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia have begun affecting international aviation and major business events scheduled in Riyadh.
Several important gatherings planned for the month are facing uncertainty, including Saudi Arabia’s flagship investment conference and the WPC Energy Congress. Several senior oil executives were removed from the congress programme.
Etihad Airways, the United Arab Emirates’ national carrier, announced on Monday that it was cancelling all flights to and from Riyadh until the following week. The airline also suspended services to Dammam and Jeddah.
Bahrain’s national carrier, Gulf Air, announced that its Riyadh flights would remain cancelled until Saturday.
US airline Delta also said it would postpone the launch of its planned direct service between Atlanta and Riyadh, which had been scheduled for October 23.
The cancellations highlight the wider consequences of the security situation, extending beyond military concerns to passenger travel, international business and Saudi Arabia’s efforts to attract investment.
Saudi Arabia Faces Growing Security and Economic Challenges
The latest Houthi missile attacks on Riyadh have raised questions about the country’s ability to defend important infrastructure while maintaining normal economic and commercial activity.
The investigation into the air defence response, the continued closure of King Khalid International Airport and the suspension of international flights all underline the seriousness of the situation.
At the same time, the exchange of threats between the Houthis and the United States adds uncertainty to an already tense regional environment.
Saudi Arabia is seeking to protect its airports and oil facilities while ensuring that major investment initiatives and economic development plans continue.
As developments unfold, The Times of Russia will continue reporting on the security situation, the impact on regional aviation and the wider implications for Saudi Arabia and the Middle East.
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