Houthis claim ballistic missile strike on Riyadh airport, warn airlines

Yemen's Houthi group claimed on October 8 that it struck King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh with a ballistic missile, according to military spokesperson Yahya Saree. The group stated the missile achieved a direct hit and caused disruption to airport operations. Saudi authorities have not yet confirmed the attack.

In a statement accompanying the claim, the Houthis issued what they described as a "last warning" to global airlines, urging them to cease operations in Saudi airspace. The group characterized the airspace as a "theater for our military operations," with an exception for the sacred Muslim cities of Mecca and Medina. Saree stated the missile "struck its target with precision and caused the disruption of airport operations."

The claim follows a previous reported attack on the same airport earlier in the week that Saudi authorities said killed one person. The US Mission in Saudi Arabia warned American citizens on Wednesday to exercise heightened vigilance amid Houthi threats, citing potential flight cancellations, airspace closures, and travel disruptions. US government employees are restricted from traveling within 20 miles of the Yemen border and require special authorization to visit several Saudi provinces including Jizan, Asir, and Najran, as well as the cities of Qatif, Yanbu, and Taif.

The Houthis, an Iran-aligned group, have conducted multiple strikes against Saudi Arabian targets in recent months. The group's recent statements represent an escalation in public warnings directed at international aviation, though Saudi Arabia has not independently confirmed this specific attack claim.