Foreign embassies in Saudi Arabia warned their citizens to stay away from Riyadh’s international airport after it came under attack Saturday by Iran-backed Houthis and flights were suspended.
Saudi authorities did not, at first, confirm any new attack or evacuation Saturday, until the message from the civil aviation authority hours later.
“The attack left several people injured, with the number still being assessed. Saudi Arabia supports Yemen’s internationally recognised government and has been providing military support for its fight against the Houthis.
Spain’s embassy, in its message on X, said the alert was because of a “new attack” by the Houthis on the airport, where witnesses earlier told AFP an evacuation was ordered. The Riyadh airport “was targeted in an attack on Saturday afternoon, October 10, 2026, amid continued attacks targeting the kingdom’s civil aviation facilities”, the aviation authority statement read. Noting the attack, a US embassy statement in Riyadh said it “strongly recommends all US citizens avoid this airport and surrounding areas”. Britain’s foreign ministry urged its citizens “to avoid King Khalid International Airport until the airport is secure and to monitor the advice of the Saudi authorities”. Canada’s embassy said only that unspecified “ongoing military activity” was affecting Riyadh’s international airport, while Germany’s mission alluded to “the current situation”.
